Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
一個死蒼蠅能敗壞一碗製香膏者的香膏；一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
智慧人的心傾向右，愚人的心偏向左。
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
愚人連在走路時，也是無知，並稱眾人皆糊塗。
4 If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
若當權者向你生氣，你不可離棄崗位，因為心平氣和能避免大錯。
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
我在太陽下見了一件不幸的事，似乎是出於掌權者的錯誤：
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
愚人佔居高位，貴人屈居下位。
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
我看見僕人騎馬，而王侯反像僕人一樣步行。
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中，拆毀牆壁的必被蛇咬傷；
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
開鑿石頭的必為石壓傷，砍伐樹木的必遭遇危險。
10 If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
鐵器鈍了，如不將刃磨快，必費許多氣力；成功是智慧的效能。
11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
行法術之前，就已被蛇咬傷，法術於行法術的人，就沒有好處。
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
智者口中的語言，為人有益；愚人的口舌卻自招滅亡：
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
他口中的語言，開始是愚昧，最後卻是殘忍的狂語。
14 The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
愚人只知多言：「將來的事怎樣，人不知道，人身後的事，有誰來告訴他﹖」
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
愚人以勞碌為煩惱，因為連怎樣進城，他也不知道。
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
邦國，你的君王若是一個幼童，你的長官若清晨宴飲，你就有禍了!
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
邦國，你的君王若出身顯貴，你的長官若宴飲有時，只求養身，不為快樂，那你就有福了。
18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
屋頂坍塌，由於怠惰；房屋滴漏，由於手懶。
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
設宴是為歡樂，酒可使生活愉快；錢能應付一切。
20 You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
在床塌上，不要詛咒君王；在臥室內，不要咒罵長官，因為空中的飛鳥能傳音，有翅翼的能傳話。
