Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
Mouch mouri bay lwil pafen yon move odè; Se konsa yon ti kras foli gen pouvwa pou depase sajès ak respè.
2 The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Kè a yon moun saj mennen li adwat, men kè a moun san konprann nan mennen l agoch.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
Menm lè ensanse a mache nan lari li manke bon tèt. Li montre tout moun ke se moun fou li ye.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
Si kòlè a wa a vin monte kont ou, pa abandone pozisyon ou; paske rete kalm ka evite gwo ofans.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
Gen yon mal mwen konn wè anba solèy la, tankou yon fot ki sòti nan sila k ap gouvène a——
6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
Foli plase nan anpil kote byen wo pandan rich yo chita kote ki ba.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Mwen konn wè esklav ki monte sou cheval ak prens k ap mache atè tankou esklav.
8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
Sila ki fouye fè yon twou ka byen tonbe ladann, e yon sèpan ka mòde gèrye a ki kraze yon miray.
9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Sila ki taye wòch yo ka blese ladann, e sila ki fann gwo bout bwa a kapab an danje.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
Si rach la pa gen tay, e li pa file pwent li; alò, li va egzije plis fòs. Avantaj a sajès se reyisi!
11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
Si sèpan an mòde avan li vin chame, nanpwen pwofi.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
Pawòl ki soti nan bouch sila ki saj la plen ak gras, men pawòl a moun ensanse a fin manje l nèt;
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Kòmansman diskou ensanse a se foli, e fen diskou li se plen mechanste ak betiz.
14 And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
Malgre tout sa, moun ensanse a ogmante pawòl li yo. Pèsòn pa konnen sa ki va rive, e kilès kab di li sa ki va rive apre li.
15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
Zèv a moun ensanse a tèlman fatige l, ke li pa konnen kijan pou li rive nan vil la.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Malè a ou menm, O peyi ki gen jenn ti gason kon wa; ak prens yo k ap fè fèt granmaten.
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Beni se ou menm, O peyi ki gen yon fis byen prepare kon wa a ak prens ki manje nan pwòp lè yo, pou bay fòs, e non pou fè banbòch vin sou.
18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
Akoz parès ak neglijans, twati a vin pann, e nan enpridans kay la vin koule.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
Yon gwo tab manje fèt pou yo rejwi yo, diven pou fè kè kontan; epi lajan se repons pou tout bagay.
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
Anplis, nan chanm a kouche ou, pa bay wa a madichon; e nan chanm a kouche ou, pa bay yon moun rich madichon. Paske yon zwazo syèl la ka pote bri a, e sa ki gen zèl yo ka fè yo konnen bagay la.
