Eklesiastes 10
1 Mana kaka lwangʼni motho miyo gima dungʼ mangʼwe ngʼar bedo gi tik marach, e kaka miriambo matin ketho rieko kod luor.
Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
2 Ngʼat mariek timo timbe mabeyo, to ngʼat mofuwo timo timbe maricho.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
3 Fupe nenore anena kata kowuotho e yo, kendo ji duto manene ongʼeyo ni ofuwo.
Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
4 Ka ruoth okecho kodi, to kik iwe tiji mitiyono; nimar kibolori to ruoth nyalo ngʼwononi kuom kethogi mangʼeny.
If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
5 Nitie richo ma aseneno e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ, ketho moro mawuok kuom jatelo:
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 Joma ofuwo imiyo tije madongo dongo, to jo-mwandu to iketo e mago matindo.
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
7 Aseneno wasumbini e ngʼe farese, to jotelo wuotho gi tiendgi ka wasumbini.
I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
8 Ngʼama kunyo bur matut nyalo lwar e iye; to ngʼama muko kor ot thuol nyalo kayo.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
9 Ngʼama kunyo kite inyalo hiny gi kitego; to ngʼama baro yien inyalo hiny gi yien.
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
10 Ka le dik kendo lewe ok opiagi, to nyaka oti kode gi teko mathoth eka obar yien, kuom mano chan gik moko chon kapod ok itimo.
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 Ka thuol okecho kapok oboye, to koro onge ohala mar ja-bocho.
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
12 Weche moa e dho ngʼat man-gi rieko nigi ngʼwono, to ngʼama ofuwo tiekore mana gi wechene owuon.
The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
13 Ngʼama ofuwo chako gi weche mag fuwo; to gikone ni gin weche neko,
The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
14 kendo wechege ngʼeny maonge tiende. Onge ngʼama ongʼeyo gima biro timorene kiny, koro en ngʼa manyalo nyise gima biro timorene bangʼ thone?
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 Ngʼama ofuwo nyagore gi tich matek ma ok konye; nimar kata kuma oaye ok onyal paro.
The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
16 Okwongʼ piny ma ruodhe ne en jatich kendo ma jotende mondo e nyasi gokinyi.
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
17 Joma ruodhigo wuok e anywola mar jotelo gin johawi kendo ruodhigigo chiemo e sa mowinjore, mondo giyud teko to ok mondo gimer.
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 Ka ngʼato nyap, to kor ode nyaka mukre marieny; to ngʼato ma budho abudha ma ok ti gi lwete, to ode nyaka chwer.
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
19 Chiemo mabeyo miyo ngʼato bedo mamor, kendo divai bende miyo ngʼato winjo maber, to pesa ema miyo ngʼato bedo gi gimoro amora modwaro.
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
20 Kik icha ruoth kata mana e pachi, kata kwongʼo ja-mwandu kor kachiena, nikech winyo mafuyo e yamo nyalo kawo wecheni, kendo winyo ma fuyono nyalo terone gima iwacho.
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.
