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 the ointment of the apothecary to send forth an offensive odor: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honor.
2 Ngʼat mariek timo timbe mabeyo, to ngʼat mofuwo timo timbe maricho.
A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart [is] at his left.
3 Fupe nenore anena kata kowuotho e yo, kendo ji duto manene ongʼeyo ni ofuwo.
Also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool.
4 Ka ruoth okecho kodi, to kik iwe tiji mitiyono; nimar kibolori to ruoth nyalo ngʼwononi kuom kethogi mangʼeny.
If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses.
5 Nitie richo ma aseneno e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ, ketho moro mawuok kuom jatelo:
There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Joma ofuwo imiyo tije madongo dongo, to jo-mwandu to iketo e mago matindo.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Aseneno wasumbini e ngʼe farese, to jotelo wuotho gi tiendgi ka wasumbini.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Ngʼama kunyo bur matut nyalo lwar e iye; to ngʼama muko kor ot thuol nyalo kayo.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Ngʼama kunyo kite inyalo hiny gi kitego; to ngʼama baro yien inyalo hiny gi yien.
Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it.
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 the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.
11 Ka thuol okecho kapok oboye, to koro onge ohala mar ja-bocho.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Ngʼama ofuwo chako gi weche mag fuwo; to gikone ni gin weche neko,
The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [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?
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what 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 labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Okwongʼ piny ma ruodhe ne en jatich kendo ma jotende mondo e nyasi gokinyi.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Joma ruodhigo wuok e anywola mar jotelo gin johawi kendo ruodhigigo chiemo e sa mowinjore, mondo giyud teko to ok mondo gimer.
Blessed [art] thou, O land, when thy king [is] the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
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 much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 Chiemo mabeyo miyo ngʼato bedo mamor, kendo divai bende miyo ngʼato winjo maber, to pesa ema miyo ngʼato bedo gi gimoro amora modwaro.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: 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.
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
