Ecclesiastes 10
1 Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
Ny fatin-dalitra mahamaimbo sy mampamorivory ny menaky ny mpangaroharo zava-manitra; ary toy izany, ny fahadalana kely dia mavesatra noho ny fahendrena sy ny voninahitra.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Ny fon’ ny hendry dia eo ankavanany; fa ny fon’ ny adala kosa dia eo ankaviany.
3 Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
Ary koa, raha mandeha eny an-dalambe ny adala, dia levona ny fahalalany, ka milaza tena amin’ ny olona rehetra izy fa adala.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
Raha tezeran’ ny mpanapaka ianao, aza miala amin’ ny fitoeranao; fa ny fahatsindriam-po mahasakana ny fahadisoana lehibe.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
Misy ratsy efa hitako atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro, ka toa fahadisoana ataon’ ny mpanapaka izany;
6 The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
Asandratra ho ambony indrindra ny adala, ary ny mpanankarena mipetraka eo amin’ ny toerana ambany.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
Efa hitako ny mpanompo mitaingin-tsoavaly, ary ny mpanapaka kosa mandeha an-tongotra toy ny mpanompo.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
Izay mihady lavaka no ho latsaka ao, ary izay mandrava fefy vato no hokekerin’ ny menarana.
9 He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
Izay manovoka vato dia haratrany, ary izay mamaky hazo no ho voany.
10 If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
Raha dombo ny antsy ka tsy asainy, dia tsy maintsy manao an-teninaina izy; fa ny fahendrena no mahasoa, satria mahalavorary ny raharaha izany.
11 If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
Raha manaikitra ny menarana, satria tsy mbola nasiana ody, dia ahoana no mahatsara ny mpanao ody?
12 The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
Soa ny teny aloaky ny vavan’ ny hendry; fa ny molotry ny adala kosa mitelina ny tenany.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
Ny fiandohan’ ny teny aloaky ny vavany dia fahadalana, ary ny fiafaran’ ny teniny dia fahaverezan-tsaina mampidi-doza.
14 A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
Maro teny ny adala nefa tsy misy olona mahalala izay ho avy; ary iza no mahalaza aminy ny ho avy any aoriany?
15 The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
Ny fisasaran’ ny adala mahareraka azy, fa ny lalana mankany an-tanàna aza tsy fantany akory.
16 Woe to you, O city, whose king is young, and your princes eat in the morning!
Lozanao, ry tany, raha zaza no mpanjakanao, ary ny lehibenao homa-maraina!
17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
Sambatra kosa ianao, ry tany, raha tena karazan’ andriana no mpanjakanao, ary ny lehibenao homana amin’ izay fotoana mety, mba hampahatanjaka ny tenany, fa tsy ny hampahamamo azy!
18 By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
Ny fahalainana be no mampianjera ny lohatrano, ary ny hakamoan’ ny tanana no mampitete ny trano.
19 Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
Ataony laolao ny hanina, ary ny divay no maharavoravo ny aina, ary ny vola no hahazoana ny zavatra rehetra.
20 Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
Aza manozona ny mpanjaka na dia amin’ ny eritreritrao aza; ary aza manozona ny mpanankarena na dia ao anatin’ ny efi-trano fandrianao aza; fa na dia ny voro-manidina aza anie ka hitondra ny feo, ary na dia ny manana elatra dia hanambara ny teny.
