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.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
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.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Menm lè moun sòt ap mache nan lari, li egare, li fè tout moun wè se moun sòt li ye.
Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
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 the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
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, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Yo pran moun sòt mete yo nan gwo pozisyon, epi yo kite moun ki chaje ak konesans anba.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
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 like servants on the earth.
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.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 Si w'ap koupe wòch karyann, w'a blese. Si w'ap fann bwa, malè ka rive ou.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
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 axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Ou te mèt konn chame sèpan, sa p'ap sèvi ou anyen si ou kite l' gen tan mòde ou.
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
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.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 Lè yo konmanse pale, se betiz y'ap di. Men lè y'ap fini, se pawòl moun fou nèt y'ap di.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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.
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Moun sòt touye tèt li nan travay, li bliye chimen kay li.
The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to 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, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat 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 are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness.
18 Lè yon moun twò parese pou l' repare kay li, twati a ap koule, fetay la ap tonbe.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
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.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 Pa kritike yon wa, pa menm nan kè ou. Pa kritike rich yo, pa menm anndan chanm ou. Paske raje gen zòrèy.
Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not curse the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
