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.
Mouch mouri bay lwil pafen yon move odè; Se konsa yon ti kras foli gen pouvwa pou depase sajès ak respè.
2 A wise man’s heart [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 wisdom 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 yielding 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 [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] 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 dignity, and the rich sit in 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 shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite 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 shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be 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 he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.
Si rach la pa gen tay, e li pa file pwent li; alò, li va egzije plis fòs. Avantaj a sajès se reyisi!
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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 will 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] foolishness: 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 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can 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 the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth 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 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!
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 slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
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 merry: but money answereth all [things].
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 a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall 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.
