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 oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh 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 at his left.
3 Fupe nenore anena kata kowuotho e yo, kendo ji duto manene ongʼeyo ni ofuwo.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone 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 rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
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, the sort of error which proceeds 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 a low place.
7 Aseneno wasumbini e ngʼe farese, to jotelo wuotho gi tiendgi ka wasumbini.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 Ngʼama kunyo bur matut nyalo lwar e iye; to ngʼama muko kor ot thuol nyalo kayo.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Ngʼama kunyo kite inyalo hiny gi kitego; to ngʼama baro yien inyalo hiny gi yien.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may 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 ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Ka thuol okecho kapok oboye, to koro onge ohala mar ja-bocho.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s 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 gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
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 multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will 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 fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Okwongʼ piny ma ruodhe ne en jatich kendo ma jotende mondo e nyasi gokinyi.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your 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.
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your 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 slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
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 makes the life glad; and money is the answer for 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.
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
