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, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
2 智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
3 並且愚昧人行路顯出無知， 對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
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 a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
5 我見日光之下有一件禍患， 似乎出於掌權的錯誤，
Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
6 就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
7 我見過僕人騎馬， 王子像僕人在地上步行。
I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
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, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
9 鑿開石頭的，必受損傷； 劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may 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, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
11 未行法術以先，蛇若咬人， 後行法術也是無益。
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
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 pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, 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, —but, the latter end of his speech, is 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？
Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, 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 toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into 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！
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
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！
How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
18 因人懶惰，房頂塌下； 因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
19 設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 錢能叫萬事應心。
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, 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。
Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
