Eklezyas 10
1 Mouch mouri gate tout boutèy odè. Yo fè l' santi. Konsa tou, yon sèl ti betiz ka fè tout gwo konesans ou pase pou anyen. Sa ka fè moun pa respekte ou ankò.
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 Kè yon moun ki gen konprann toujou panche pou fè sa ki byen, men kè moun sòt toujou panche pou fè sa ki mal.
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 Menm lè moun sòt ap mache nan lari, li egare, li fè tout moun wè se moun sòt li ye.
Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 Si chèf ou move sou ou, pa prese vire do ou ale. Si ou rete dousman, sa ka evite ou anpil malè.
If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
5 Men yon lòt move bagay mwen wè ankò sou latè, lèfini se chèf yo ki lakòz sa.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 Yo pran moun sòt mete yo nan gwo pozisyon, epi yo kite moun ki chaje ak konesans anba.
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 Mwen wè esklav ap karakole sou chwal yo, epi chèf yo menm k'ap mache apye tankou esklav.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 Si ou fouye yon pi, se ou menm ki va tonbe ladan l'. Si ou kraze yon miray, se ou menm sèpan va mòde.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 Si w'ap koupe wòch karyann, w'a blese. Si w'ap fann bwa, malè ka rive ou.
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 Si dan rach ou pa koupe, si ou pa file l', ou gen pou travay pi rèd lè w'ap sèvi avè l'. Men bon konprann ap fè ou reyisi nan sa w'ap fè.
If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
11 Ou te mèt konn chame sèpan, sa p'ap sèvi ou anyen si ou kite l' gen tan mòde ou.
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 Pawòl ki soti nan bouch yon moun ki gen konprann sèvi yon lwanj pou li. Men pawòl nan bouch moun sòt ap lakòz lanmò yo.
Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 Lè yo konmanse pale, se betiz y'ap di. Men lè y'ap fini, se pawòl moun fou nèt y'ap di.
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 Moun sòt renmen pale anpil. Pesonn pa konnen sa k'ap rive denmen. Pesonn pa ka di nou sa k'ap rive apre nou mouri.
The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
15 Moun sòt touye tèt li nan travay, li bliye chimen kay li.
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Ala malè pou yon peyi lè li gen yon timoun alatèt li, lè chèf li yo tonbe nan manje depi granmaten.
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 Men, ala bon sa bon pou yon peyi lè wa a se moun ki soti nan bon ras, lè chèf li yo manje lè pou yo manje pou yo ka jwenn fòs, epi ki pa lage kò yo nan banbòch.
Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 Lè yon moun twò parese pou l' repare kay li, twati a ap koule, fetay la ap tonbe.
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 Yo fè resepsyon pou yo pran plezi yo, yo bwè diven pou fè kè yo kontan, men se lajan ki penmèt yo fè tou sa.
While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 Pa kritike yon wa, pa menm nan kè ou. Pa kritike rich yo, pa menm anndan chanm ou. Paske raje gen zòrèy.
You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
