Eklezyas 10
1 Mouch mouri bay lwil pafen yon move odè; Se konsa yon ti kras foli gen pouvwa pou depase sajès ak respè.
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 a yon moun saj mennen li adwat, men kè a moun san konprann nan mennen l agoch.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Menm lè ensanse a mache nan lari li manke bon tèt. Li montre tout moun ke se moun fou 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 kòlè a wa a vin monte kont ou, pa abandone pozisyon ou; paske rete kalm ka evite gwo ofans.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Gen yon mal mwen konn wè anba solèy la, tankou yon fot ki sòti nan sila k ap gouvène a——
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Foli plase nan anpil kote byen wo pandan rich yo chita kote ki ba.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Mwen konn wè esklav ki monte sou cheval ak prens k ap mache atè tankou esklav.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 Sila ki fouye fè yon twou ka byen tonbe ladann, e yon sèpan ka mòde gèrye a ki kraze yon miray.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 Sila ki taye wòch yo ka blese ladann, e sila ki fann gwo bout bwa a kapab an danje.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10 Si rach la pa gen tay, e li pa file pwent li; alò, li va egzije plis fòs. Avantaj a sajès se reyisi!
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Si sèpan an mòde avan li vin chame, nanpwen pwofi.
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
12 Pawòl ki soti nan bouch sila ki saj la plen ak gras, men pawòl a moun ensanse a fin manje l nèt;
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 Kòmansman diskou ensanse a se foli, e fen diskou li se plen mechanste ak betiz.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Malgre tout sa, moun ensanse a ogmante pawòl li yo. Pèsòn pa konnen sa ki va rive, e kilès kab di li sa ki va rive apre li.
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Zèv a moun ensanse a tèlman fatige l, ke li pa konnen kijan pou li rive nan vil la.
The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.
16 Malè a ou menm, O peyi ki gen jenn ti gason kon wa; ak prens yo k ap fè fèt granmaten.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning.
17 Beni se ou menm, O peyi ki gen yon fis byen prepare kon wa a ak prens ki manje nan pwòp lè yo, pou bay fòs, e non pou fè banbòch vin sou.
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 Akoz parès ak neglijans, twati a vin pann, e nan enpridans kay la vin koule.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Yon gwo tab manje fèt pou yo rejwi yo, diven pou fè kè kontan; epi lajan se repons pou tout bagay.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 Anplis, nan chanm a kouche ou, pa bay wa a madichon; e nan chanm a kouche ou, pa bay yon moun rich madichon. Paske yon zwazo syèl la ka pote bri a, e sa ki gen zèl yo ka fè yo konnen bagay la.
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.
