Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking odour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Mana kaka lwangʼni motho miyo gima dungʼ mangʼwe ngʼar bedo gi tik marach, e kaka miriambo matin ketho rieko kod luor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart is at his left.
Ngʼat mariek timo timbe mabeyo, to ngʼat mofuwo timo timbe maricho.
3 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.
Fupe nenore anena kata kowuotho e yo, kendo ji duto manene ongʼeyo ni ofuwo.
4 If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Ka ruoth okecho kodi, to kik iwe tiji mitiyono; nimar kibolori to ruoth nyalo ngʼwononi kuom kethogi mangʼeny.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Nitie richo ma aseneno e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ, ketho moro mawuok kuom jatelo:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Joma ofuwo imiyo tije madongo dongo, to jo-mwandu to iketo e mago matindo.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Aseneno wasumbini e ngʼe farese, to jotelo wuotho gi tiendgi ka wasumbini.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Ngʼama kunyo bur matut nyalo lwar e iye; to ngʼama muko kor ot thuol nyalo kayo.
9 Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cutteth wood shall be endangered by it.
Ngʼama kunyo kite inyalo hiny gi kitego; to ngʼama baro yien inyalo hiny gi yien.
10 If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Ka le dik kendo lewe ok opiagi, to nyaka oti kode gi teko mathoth eka obar yien, kuom mano chan gik moko chon kapod ok itimo.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Ka thuol okecho kapok oboye, to koro onge ohala mar ja-bocho.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Weche moa e dho ngʼat man-gi rieko nigi ngʼwono, to ngʼama ofuwo tiekore mana gi wechene owuon.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Ngʼama ofuwo chako gi weche mag fuwo; to gikone ni gin weche neko,
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?
kendo wechege ngʼeny maonge tiende. Onge ngʼama ongʼeyo gima biro timorene kiny, koro en ngʼa manyalo nyise gima biro timorene bangʼ thone?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Ngʼama ofuwo nyagore gi tich matek ma ok konye; nimar kata kuma oaye ok onyal paro.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Okwongʼ piny ma ruodhe ne en jatich kendo ma jotende mondo e nyasi gokinyi.
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!
Joma ruodhigo wuok e anywola mar jotelo gin johawi kendo ruodhigigo chiemo e sa mowinjore, mondo giyud teko to ok mondo gimer.
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Ka ngʼato nyap, to kor ode nyaka mukre marieny; to ngʼato ma budho abudha ma ok ti gi lwete, to ode nyaka chwer.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Chiemo mabeyo miyo ngʼato bedo mamor, kendo divai bende miyo ngʼato winjo maber, to pesa ema miyo ngʼato bedo gi gimoro amora modwaro.
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.
Kik icha ruoth kata mana e pachi, kata kwongʼo ja-mwandu kor kachiena, nikech winyo mafuyo e yamo nyalo kawo wecheni, kendo winyo ma fuyono nyalo terone gima iwacho.
