Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
Mana kaka lwangʼni motho miyo gima dungʼ mangʼwe ngʼar bedo gi tik marach, e kaka miriambo matin ketho rieko kod luor.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
Ngʼat mariek timo timbe mabeyo, to ngʼat mofuwo timo timbe maricho.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
Fupe nenore anena kata kowuotho e yo, kendo ji duto manene ongʼeyo ni ofuwo.
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.
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, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
Nitie richo ma aseneno e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ, ketho moro mawuok kuom jatelo:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
Joma ofuwo imiyo tije madongo dongo, to jo-mwandu to iketo e mago matindo.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
Aseneno wasumbini e ngʼe farese, to jotelo wuotho gi tiendgi ka wasumbini.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
Ngʼama kunyo bur matut nyalo lwar e iye; to ngʼama muko kor ot thuol nyalo kayo.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
Ngʼama kunyo kite inyalo hiny gi kitego; to ngʼama baro yien inyalo hiny gi yien.
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.
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 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
Ka thuol okecho kapok oboye, to koro onge ohala mar ja-bocho.
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
Weche moa e dho ngʼat man-gi rieko nigi ngʼwono, to ngʼama ofuwo tiekore mana gi wechene owuon.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
Ngʼama ofuwo chako gi weche mag fuwo; to gikone ni gin weche neko,
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?
kendo wechege ngʼeny maonge tiende. Onge ngʼama ongʼeyo gima biro timorene kiny, koro en ngʼa manyalo nyise gima biro timorene bangʼ thone?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
Ngʼama ofuwo nyagore gi tich matek ma ok konye; nimar kata kuma oaye ok onyal paro.
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
Okwongʼ piny ma ruodhe ne en jatich kendo ma jotende mondo e nyasi gokinyi.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
Joma ruodhigo wuok e anywola mar jotelo gin johawi kendo ruodhigigo chiemo e sa mowinjore, mondo giyud teko to ok mondo gimer.
18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
Ka ngʼato nyap, to kor ode nyaka mukre marieny; to ngʼato ma budho abudha ma ok ti gi lwete, to ode nyaka chwer.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
Chiemo mabeyo miyo ngʼato bedo mamor, kendo divai bende miyo ngʼato winjo maber, to pesa ema miyo ngʼato bedo gi gimoro amora modwaro.
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.
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.
