Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Mouch mouri gate tout boutèy odè. Yo fè l' santi. Konsa tou, yon sèl ti betiz ka fè tout gwo konesans ou pase pou anyen. Sa ka fè moun pa respekte ou ankò.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
Kè yon moun ki gen konprann toujou panche pou fè sa ki byen, men kè moun sòt toujou panche pou fè sa ki mal.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Menm lè moun sòt ap mache nan lari, li egare, li fè tout moun wè se moun sòt li ye.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
Si chèf ou move sou ou, pa prese vire do ou ale. Si ou rete dousman, sa ka evite ou anpil malè.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
Men yon lòt move bagay mwen wè ankò sou latè, lèfini se chèf yo ki lakòz sa.
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
Yo pran moun sòt mete yo nan gwo pozisyon, epi yo kite moun ki chaje ak konesans anba.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
Mwen wè esklav ap karakole sou chwal yo, epi chèf yo menm k'ap mache apye tankou esklav.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Si ou fouye yon pi, se ou menm ki va tonbe ladan l'. Si ou kraze yon miray, se ou menm sèpan va mòde.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Si w'ap koupe wòch karyann, w'a blese. Si w'ap fann bwa, malè ka rive ou.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
Si dan rach ou pa koupe, si ou pa file l', ou gen pou travay pi rèd lè w'ap sèvi avè l'. Men bon konprann ap fè ou reyisi nan sa w'ap fè.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Ou te mèt konn chame sèpan, sa p'ap sèvi ou anyen si ou kite l' gen tan mòde ou.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Pawòl ki soti nan bouch yon moun ki gen konprann sèvi yon lwanj pou li. Men pawòl nan bouch moun sòt ap lakòz lanmò yo.
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Lè yo konmanse pale, se betiz y'ap di. Men lè y'ap fini, se pawòl moun fou nèt y'ap di.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
Moun sòt renmen pale anpil. Pesonn pa konnen sa k'ap rive denmen. Pesonn pa ka di nou sa k'ap rive apre nou mouri.
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
Moun sòt touye tèt li nan travay, li bliye chimen kay li.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Ala malè pou yon peyi lè li gen yon timoun alatèt li, lè chèf li yo tonbe nan manje depi granmaten.
17 Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
Men, ala bon sa bon pou yon peyi lè wa a se moun ki soti nan bon ras, lè chèf li yo manje lè pou yo manje pou yo ka jwenn fòs, epi ki pa lage kò yo nan banbòch.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Lè yon moun twò parese pou l' repare kay li, twati a ap koule, fetay la ap tonbe.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
Yo fè resepsyon pou yo pran plezi yo, yo bwè diven pou fè kè yo kontan, men se lajan ki penmèt yo fè tou sa.
20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
Pa kritike yon wa, pa menm nan kè ou. Pa kritike rich yo, pa menm anndan chanm ou. Paske raje gen zòrèy.
