Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!
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 The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
3 And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he has said to everyone, “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 goes up against you, do not leave your place, For yielding quiets great sinners.
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 I have seen under the sun, As ignorance that goes out from the ruler,
我見日光之下有一件禍患， 似乎出於掌權的錯誤，
6 He has set the fool in many high places, And the rich sits in a low place.
就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
7 I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
我見過僕人騎馬， 王子像僕人在地上步行。
8 Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And whoever is breaking a hedge, a serpent bites him.
挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中； 拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。
9 Whoever is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoever is cleaving trees endangered by them.
鑿開石頭的，必受損傷； 劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
10 If the iron has been blunt, And he has not sharpened the face, Then he increases strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
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 bites without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
未行法術以先，蛇若咬人， 後行法術也是無益。
12 Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
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] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
他口中的言語起頭是愚昧； 他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。
14 And the fool multiplies words: “Man does not know that which is—And that which is after him, who declares to 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 labor of the foolish wearies him, In that he has not known 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 you, O land, when your king [is] a youth, And your princes eat 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 Blessed are you, O land, When your king [is] a son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For might, and not for 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 is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands the house drops.
因人懶惰，房頂塌下； 因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
19 For mirth they are making a feast, And wine makes life joyful, And the silver answers with all.
設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 錢能叫萬事應心。
20 Even in your mind do not revile a king, And in the inner parts of your bed-chamber do not revile the rich: For a bird of the heavens causes the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declares the word.
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。
