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。
[A few] dead flies in [a bottle of] perfume cause [all] the perfume to stink. Similarly [SIM], a small amount of acting foolishly can have a greater effect than acting wisely.
2 智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
If people think sensibly, it will lead them to do what is right; if they think foolishly, it causes them to do what is wrong.
3 并且愚昧人行路显出无知， 对众人说，他是愚昧人。
Even while foolish people walk along the road, they show that they do not have good sense; they show everyone that they are not wise.
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。
Do not quit working for a ruler when he is angry with you; if you remain calm, he will [probably] stop being angry.
5 我见日光之下有一件祸患， 似乎出于掌权的错误，
There is something [else] that I have seen here on this earth, something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong/inappropriate:
6 就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
7 我见过仆人骑马， 王子像仆人在地上步行。
They allow slaves [to ride] on horses [like rich people usually do], [but] they force officials to walk [like slaves usually do].
8 挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中； 拆墙垣的，必为蛇所咬。
[It is possible that] those who dig pits will fall into one of those pits. [It is possible that] someone who tears down a wall will be bitten by a snake [that is in that wall].
9 凿开石头的，必受损伤； 劈开木头的，必遭危险。
If you work in a quarry, [it is possible that] a stone [will fall on you and] injure you. [It is possible that] men who split logs will be injured by one of those logs.
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 axe is not sharp [DOU], you will need to work harder [to cut down a tree], but by being wise, you will succeed.
11 未行法术以先，蛇若咬人， 后行法术也是无益。
If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.
12 智慧人的口说出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞灭自己。
Wise people say [MTY] what is sensible, and because of that, people honor them; but foolish people are destroyed by what they say [MTY].
13 他口中的言语起头是愚昧； 他话的末尾是奸恶的狂妄。
When foolish people start to talk, they say things that are foolish, and they end by saying things that are both wicked and foolish.
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？
They talk (too much/without ceasing). None of us knows what will happen in the future, or what will happen after we die.
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。
Foolish people become [so] exhausted by the work that they do that they are unable to find the road to their town/homes.
16 邦国啊，你的王若是孩童， 你的群臣早晨宴乐， 你就有祸了！
Terrible things will happen to the people of a nation whose ruler is a foolish young man, and whose [other] leaders continually eat, all day long, every day.
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！
[But] a nation will prosper if its ruler is from a (noble/well-educated) family, and if its [other] leaders feast [only] at the proper times, and [if they eat and drink only] to be strong, not to become drunk.
18 因人懒惰，房顶塌下； 因人手懒，房屋滴漏。
Some men are very lazy [and do not repair the rafters], with the result that the rafters sag [and collapse]; and if they do not repair the roof, water will leak into the house [when it rains].
19 设摆筵席是为喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 钱能叫万事应心。
Eating food and drinking wine causes us to laugh and be happy, [but] we are able to enjoy those things only if we have money [to buy them].
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。
Do not even think about cursing the king, or cursing rich [people, even] when you are [alone] in your bedroom, because [it is possible that] a little bird will hear [what you are saying], [and] tell those people what you said [about them].
