傳道書 10
1 死蒼蠅使做香的膏油發出臭氣； 這樣，一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。
Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
2 智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3 並且愚昧人行路顯出無知， 對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 掌權者的心若向你發怒， 不要離開你的本位， 因為柔和能免大過。
If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
5 我見日光之下有一件禍患， 似乎出於掌權的錯誤，
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6 就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 我見過僕人騎馬， 王子像僕人在地上步行。
I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中； 拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 鑿開石頭的，必受損傷； 劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10 鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費氣力； 但得智慧指教，便有益處。
If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
11 未行法術以先，蛇若咬人， 後行法術也是無益。
If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 智慧人的口說出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 他口中的言語起頭是愚昧； 他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。
The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 愚昧人多有言語， 人卻不知將來有甚麼事； 他身後的事誰能告訴他呢？
A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 凡愚昧人，他的勞碌使自己困乏， 因為連進城的路，他也不知道。
The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
16 邦國啊，你的王若是孩童， 你的群臣早晨宴樂， 你就有禍了！
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
17 邦國啊，你的王若是貴冑之子， 你的群臣按時吃喝， 為要補力，不為酒醉， 你就有福了！
Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 因人懶惰，房頂塌下； 因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 錢能叫萬事應心。
For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
20 你不可咒詛君王， 也不可心懷此念； 在你臥房也不可咒詛富戶。 因為空中的鳥必傳揚這聲音， 有翅膀的也必述說這事。
Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
