Eklezyas 10
1 Mouch mouri bay lwil pafen yon move odè; Se konsa yon ti kras foli gen pouvwa pou depase sajès ak respè.
As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
2 Kè a yon moun saj mennen li adwat, men kè a moun san konprann nan mennen l agoch.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
3 Menm lè ensanse a mache nan lari li manke bon tèt. Li montre tout moun ke se moun fou li ye.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone 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 emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
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 that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 Foli plase nan anpil kote byen wo pandan rich yo chita kote ki ba.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 Mwen konn wè esklav ki monte sou cheval ak prens k ap mache atè tankou esklav.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 Sila ki fouye fè yon twou ka byen tonbe ladann, e yon sèpan ka mòde gèrye a ki kraze yon miray.
Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
9 Sila ki taye wòch yo ka blese ladann, e sila ki fann gwo bout bwa a kapab an danje.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
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 an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
11 Si sèpan an mòde avan li vin chame, nanpwen pwofi.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
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 the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Kòmansman diskou ensanse a se foli, e fen diskou li se plen mechanste ak betiz.
As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked 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 multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
15 Zèv a moun ensanse a tèlman fatige l, ke li pa konnen kijan pou li rive nan vil la.
The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
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, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting 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.
But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Akoz parès ak neglijans, twati a vin pann, e nan enpridans kay la vin koule.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle 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.
People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
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, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread the matter.
