< Ecclesiastes 10 >
1 Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
死苍蝇使做香的膏油发出臭气; 这样,一点愚昧也能败坏智慧和尊荣。
2 A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
智慧人的心居右; 愚昧人的心居左。
3 Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
并且愚昧人行路显出无知, 对众人说,他是愚昧人。
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
掌权者的心若向你发怒, 不要离开你的本位, 因为柔和能免大过。
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
我见日光之下有一件祸患, 似乎出于掌权的错误,
6 Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
就是愚昧人立在高位; 富足人坐在低位。
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
我见过仆人骑马, 王子像仆人在地上步行。
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
挖陷坑的,自己必掉在其中; 拆墙垣的,必为蛇所咬。
9 Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
凿开石头的,必受损伤; 劈开木头的,必遭危险。
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
铁器钝了,若不将刃磨快,就必多费气力; 但得智慧指教,便有益处。
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
未行法术以先,蛇若咬人, 后行法术也是无益。
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
智慧人的口说出恩言; 愚昧人的嘴吞灭自己。
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
他口中的言语起头是愚昧; 他话的末尾是奸恶的狂妄。
14 A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
愚昧人多有言语, 人却不知将来有什么事; 他身后的事谁能告诉他呢?
15 The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
凡愚昧人,他的劳碌使自己困乏, 因为连进城的路,他也不知道。
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
邦国啊,你的王若是孩童, 你的群臣早晨宴乐, 你就有祸了!
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
邦国啊,你的王若是贵胄之子, 你的群臣按时吃喝, 为要补力,不为酒醉, 你就有福了!
18 By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
因人懒惰,房顶塌下; 因人手懒,房屋滴漏。
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
设摆筵席是为喜笑。 酒能使人快活; 钱能叫万事应心。
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
你不可咒诅君王, 也不可心怀此念; 在你卧房也不可咒诅富户。 因为空中的鸟必传扬这声音, 有翅膀的也必述说这事。