传道书 10
1 死苍蝇使做香的膏油发出臭气； 这样，一点愚昧也能败坏智慧和尊荣。
Dead flies can make perfumed oil smell bad. Likewise a little foolishness outweighs great wisdom and honor.
2 智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
The mind of the wise person chooses the right side, but the mind of the fool goes left!
3 并且愚昧人行路显出无知， 对众人说，他是愚昧人。
Just the way that fools walk down the road shows they have no sense, making clear to everyone their stupidity.
4 掌权者的心若向你发怒， 不要离开你的本位， 因为柔和能免大过。
If your superior gets angry with you, don't give up and leave. If you stay calm even bad mistakes can be resolved.
5 我见日光之下有一件祸患， 似乎出于掌权的错误，
I also realized there's another evil here on earth: rulers make a big mistake
6 就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
when they put fools in high positions, while those who are richly qualified are put in low positions.
7 我见过仆人骑马， 王子像仆人在地上步行。
I've seen slaves riding on horseback, while princes walk on the ground like slaves.
8 挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中； 拆墙垣的，必为蛇所咬。
If you dig a pit, you could fall in. If you knock down a wall, you could be bitten by a snake.
9 凿开石头的，必受损伤； 劈开木头的，必遭危险。
If you quarry stone, you could be injured. If you split logs, you could be hurt.
10 铁器钝了，若不将刃磨快，就必多费气力； 但得智慧指教，便有益处。
If your ax is blunt and you don't sharpen it, you have to use a lot more force. Conclusion: being wise brings good results.
11 未行法术以先，蛇若咬人， 后行法术也是无益。
If the snake bites the snake charmer before it's charmed, there's no benefit to the snake charmer!
12 智慧人的口说出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞灭自己。
Wise words are beneficial, but fools destroy themselves by what they say.
13 他口中的言语起头是愚昧； 他话的末尾是奸恶的狂妄。
Fools begin by saying foolish things, and end up talking evil nonsense.
14 愚昧人多有言语， 人却不知将来有什么事； 他身后的事谁能告诉他呢？
Fools talk on and on, however no one knows what's going to happen, so who can say what the future holds?
15 凡愚昧人，他的劳碌使自己困乏， 因为连进城的路，他也不知道。
Work makes fools so worn out they can't achieve anything.
16 邦国啊，你的王若是孩童， 你的群臣早晨宴乐， 你就有祸了！
You're in trouble if the king of your country is young, and if your leaders are busy feasting from early morning.
17 邦国啊，你的王若是贵胄之子， 你的群臣按时吃喝， 为要补力，不为酒醉， 你就有福了！
You're fortunate if your king comes from a noble family, and your leaders feast at the proper time to give themselves energy, and not to get drunk.
18 因人懒惰，房顶塌下； 因人手懒，房屋滴漏。
Lazy people let their roofs collapse; idle people don't repair their leaky houses.
19 设摆筵席是为喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 钱能叫万事应心。
A good meal brings pleasure; wine makes life pleasant; money provides for all needs.
20 你不可咒诅君王， 也不可心怀此念； 在你卧房也不可咒诅富户。 因为空中的鸟必传扬这声音， 有翅膀的也必述说这事。
Don't talk badly about the king, not even in your thoughts. Don't talk badly about leaders, even in the privacy of your bedroom. A bird may hear what you say and fly away to tell them.
