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。
Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
3 並且愚昧人行路顯出無知， 對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
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 the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
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 which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
6 就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
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 as servants upon the earth.
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 whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 鑿開石頭的，必受損傷； 劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
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 one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 未行法術以先，蛇若咬人， 後行法術也是無益。
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 智慧人的口說出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
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 the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
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 also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which 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 wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how 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 boy, and thy princes feast 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！
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
18 因人懶惰，房頂塌下； 因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 錢能叫萬事應心。
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
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。
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
