Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Akkuma tisiisni duute tokko shittoo ajeessitu sana gowwummaan xinnoon ogummaa fi ulfina balleessa.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
Yaadni ogeessaa karaa mirgaa, yaadni gowwaa immoo karaa bitaa jira.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Gowwaan yoo karaa deemu illee qalbii hin qabu; akka gowwaa taʼes nama hundatti argisiisa.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
Yoo dheekkamsi bulchaa tokkoo sitti hammaate, ati iddoo kee gad hin dhiisin; tasgabbaaʼuun dogoggora guddaa hambisuu dandaʼaatii.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
Hamminni ani aduudhaa gaditti arge tokko jira; kunis dogoggora bulchaan tokko uumuu dha.
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
Utuma badhaadhonni iddoo gad aanu qabatanii jiranuu, gowwoonni iddoo ulfinaa qabatu.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
Ani utuma ilmaan moototaa akka garbootaa miillaan deemanii garboonni immoo fardaan utuu deemanii nan arge.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Namni boolla qotu kam iyyuu ofuma isaatii keessa buʼa; nama dallaa cabsee keessaan baʼu kam iyyuu bofatu idda.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Namni dhagaa baasu kam iyyuu dhagaa sanaan miidhamuu dandaʼa; namni jirma baqaqsu hundinuus jirmuma sanaan miidhama.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
Qottoon doomee afaan isaa yoo hin qaramin, humna guddaa barbaachisa; ogummaan garuu milkaaʼinna fida.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Bofti tokko utuu hin raateffamin yoo nama idde, namichi bofa raatessu sun homaa hin argatu.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Dubbiin afaan ogeessaatii baʼu ulfina qaba; namni gowwaan immoo hidhii ofii isaatiin bada.
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Dubbiin isaa jalqabatti gowwummaa dha; dhuma irratti garuu maraatummaa hamaa dha;
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
namni gowwaan dubbii baayʼisa. Namni tokko iyyuu waan dhufuuf jiru hin beeku; eenyutu waan isa duubaan taʼu isatti himuu dandaʼa?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
Dadhabbiin gowwaa isuma butuchiti; inni karaa gara magaalaatti geessu hin beeku.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Yaa biyya mootiin kee mucaa turee, kan ilmaan moototaa kee ganamaan nyaatanii dhugan siif wayyoo.
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.
Yaa biyya mootiin kee sanyii beekamaa irraa dhalate, kan ilmaan moototaa utuu machaaʼuuf hin taʼin, jabina argachuuf jedhanii yeroo malutti nyaatanii dhugan, ati eebbifamtuu dha.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Dhibaaʼummaan, mana duuffisa; harki hin hojjennes mana dhimmisiisa.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
Cidhi kolfaaf qopheeffama; daadhiin wayiniis jireenya gammachiisa; maallaqni immoo deebii waan hundaa ti.
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.
Sababii simbirri samii dubbii kee geessituuf, yookaan simbirri barrisaa jirtu dhaqxee waan ati jettu himtuuf, ati yaada kee keessatti mootii hin arrabsin; yookaan kutaa hirribaa keessatti sooressa hin abaarin.
