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。
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 並且愚昧人行路顯出無知， 對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
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 you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offenses.
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, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
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 on 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 digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 鑿開石頭的，必受損傷； 劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be 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 axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 未行法術以先，蛇若咬人， 後行法術也是無益。
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 智慧人的口說出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
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 folly: and the end of his talk mischievous 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 moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after 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 labor of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not 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 you, O city, whose king is young, and your 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 are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 因人懶惰，房頂塌下； 因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 錢能叫萬事應心。
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
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。
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
