< Ecclesiastes 10 >

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
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 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
智慧人的心傾向右,愚人的心偏向左。
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
愚人連在走路時,也是無知,並稱眾人皆糊塗。
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
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, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
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 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
愚人佔居高位,貴人屈居下位。
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
我看見僕人騎馬,而王侯反像僕人一樣步行。
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中,拆毀牆壁的必被蛇咬傷;
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
開鑿石頭的必為石壓傷,砍伐樹木的必遭遇危險。
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
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 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
智者口中的語言,為人有益;愚人的口舌卻自招滅亡:
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
他口中的語言,開始是愚昧,最後卻是殘忍的狂語。
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell 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 labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to 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 thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat 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 art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
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 much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
屋頂坍塌,由於怠惰;房屋滴漏,由於手懶。
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
設宴是為歡樂,酒可使生活愉快;錢能應付一切。
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.
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。

< Ecclesiastes 10 >