Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Mana kaka lwangʼni motho miyo gima dungʼ mangʼwe ngʼar bedo gi tik marach, e kaka miriambo matin ketho rieko kod luor.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
Ngʼat mariek timo timbe mabeyo, to ngʼat mofuwo timo timbe maricho.
3 Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Fupe nenore anena kata kowuotho e yo, kendo ji duto manene ongʼeyo ni ofuwo.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.
Ka ruoth okecho kodi, to kik iwe tiji mitiyono; nimar kibolori to ruoth nyalo ngʼwononi kuom kethogi mangʼeny.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:
Nitie richo ma aseneno e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ, ketho moro mawuok kuom jatelo:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Joma ofuwo imiyo tije madongo dongo, to jo-mwandu to iketo e mago matindo.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and rulers walking like servants upon the earth.
Aseneno wasumbini e ngʼe farese, to jotelo wuotho gi tiendgi ka wasumbini.
8 He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
Ngʼama kunyo bur matut nyalo lwar e iye; to ngʼama muko kor ot thuol nyalo kayo.
9 He who hews out stones shall be hurt therewith, and he who splits wood is endangered thereby.
Ngʼama kunyo kite inyalo hiny gi kitego; to ngʼama baro yien inyalo hiny gi yien.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must increase strength. But wisdom is advantageous to make right.
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.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
Ka thuol okecho kapok oboye, to koro onge ohala mar ja-bocho.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow himself up.
Weche moa e dho ngʼat man-gi rieko nigi ngʼwono, to ngʼama ofuwo tiekore mana gi wechene owuon.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Ngʼama ofuwo chako gi weche mag fuwo; to gikone ni gin weche neko,
14 A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
kendo wechege ngʼeny maonge tiende. Onge ngʼama ongʼeyo gima biro timorene kiny, koro en ngʼa manyalo nyise gima biro timorene bangʼ thone?
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them, for he knows not how to go to the city.
Ngʼama ofuwo nyagore gi tich matek ma ok konye; nimar kata kuma oaye ok onyal paro.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy rulers feast in the morning!
Okwongʼ piny ma ruodhe ne en jatich kendo ma jotende mondo e nyasi gokinyi.
17 Happy are thou, O land, when thy king is the son of noble men, and thy rulers feast in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Joma ruodhigo wuok e anywola mar jotelo gin johawi kendo ruodhigigo chiemo e sa mowinjore, mondo giyud teko to ok mondo gimer.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Ka ngʼato nyap, to kor ode nyaka mukre marieny; to ngʼato ma budho abudha ma ok ti gi lwete, to ode nyaka chwer.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes glad the life, and money answers all things.
Chiemo mabeyo miyo ngʼato bedo mamor, kendo divai bende miyo ngʼato winjo maber, to pesa ema miyo ngʼato bedo gi gimoro amora modwaro.
20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought, and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
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.
