Ecclesiastes 10
1 Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
Bangkai lalat membusukkan sebotol minyak wangi, sedikit kebodohan menghilangkan hikmat yang tinggi.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Wajarlah kalau orang arif melakukan kebajikan, dan orang bodoh melakukan kejahatan.
3 Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
Kebodohannya tampak pada segala gerak-geriknya. Dan kepada semua orang ditunjukkannya kedunguannya.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offenses.
Jika engkau dimarahi penguasa, janganlah minta berhenti bekerja. Biarpun kesalahanmu besar, engkau dimaafkan bila tenang dan sabar.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
Ada kejahatan lain yang kulihat di dunia, yaitu penyelewengan para penguasa.
6 The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
Orang bodoh diberi kedudukan yang mulia, sedangkan orang terkemuka tak mendapat apa-apa.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
Pernah kulihat budak-budak menunggang kuda sedangkan kaum bangsawan berjalan kaki seperti hamba.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
Siapa menggali lubang, akan jatuh ke dalamnya; siapa mendobrak tembok akan digigit ular berbisa.
9 He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
Siapa bekerja di tambang batu, akan terbentur dan luka. Siapa membelah kayu, mungkin sekali mendapat cedera.
10 If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
Apabila parangmu tumpul dan tidak kauasah, engkau harus bekerja dengan lebih bersusah payah. Pakailah akal sehatmu, dan buatlah rencana lebih dahulu.
11 If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
Kalau ular menggigit sebelum dijinakkan dengan mantera, maka pawang ular tak ada lagi gunanya.
12 The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
Ucapan orang arif membuat ia dihormati, tetapi orang bodoh binasa karena kata-katanya sendiri.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
Ia mulai dengan omong kosong biasa, tetapi akhirnya bicaranya seperti orang gila.
14 A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
Memang, orang bodoh banyak bicara. Hari depan tersembunyi bagi kita semua. Tak ada yang dapat meramalkan kejadian setelah kita tiada.
15 The labor of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
Cuma orang bodoh yang tak tahu jalan ke rumahnya, ia bekerja keras dengan tak henti-hentinya.
16 Woe to you, O city, whose king is young, and your princes eat in the morning!
Celakalah negeri yang rajanya muda belia, dan para pembesarnya semalam suntuk berpesta pora.
17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
Mujurlah negeri yang rajanya berwibawa, yang pembesarnya makan pada waktunya, tak suka mabuk dan pandai menahan dirinya.
18 By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
Atap rumah akan bocor kalau tidak dibetulkan, dan akhirnya rumah itu lapuk akibat kemalasan.
19 Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
Pesta membuat tertawa, dan anggur membuat gembira. Tapi perlu ada uang untuk membayarnya.
20 Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
Jangan mengecam raja, biar di dalam hati. Jangan mengumpat orang kaya, biar di kamar tidur pribadi. Mungkin seekor burung mendengar apa yang kaukatakan, lalu menyampaikannya kepada yang bersangkutan.
