< Ecclesiastes 10 >

1 Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
死蒼蠅使做香的膏油發出臭氣; 這樣,一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。
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.
並且愚昧人行路顯出無知, 對眾人說,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.
掌權者的心若向你發怒, 不要離開你的本位, 因為柔和能免大過。
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
我見日光之下有一件禍患, 似乎出於掌權的錯誤,
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.
我見過僕人騎馬, 王子像僕人在地上步行。
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; 拆牆垣的,必為蛇所咬。
9 Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
鑿開石頭的,必受損傷; 劈開木頭的,必遭危險。
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.
鐵器鈍了,若不將刃磨快,就必多費氣力; 但得智慧指教,便有益處。
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
未行法術以先,蛇若咬人, 後行法術也是無益。
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
智慧人的口說出恩言; 愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
他口中的言語起頭是愚昧; 他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。
14 A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
愚昧人多有言語, 人卻不知將來有甚麼事; 他身後的事誰能告訴他呢?
15 The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
凡愚昧人,他的勞碌使自己困乏, 因為連進城的路,他也不知道。
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
邦國啊,你的王若是孩童, 你的群臣早晨宴樂, 你就有禍了!
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!
邦國啊,你的王若是貴冑之子, 你的群臣按時吃喝, 為要補力,不為酒醉, 你就有福了!
18 By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
因人懶惰,房頂塌下; 因人手懶,房屋滴漏。
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活; 錢能叫萬事應心。
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.
你不可咒詛君王, 也不可心懷此念; 在你臥房也不可咒詛富戶。 因為空中的鳥必傳揚這聲音, 有翅膀的也必述說這事。

< Ecclesiastes 10 >