Kekahuna 10
1 O NA nalo make, he mea ia e pilau ai ka laau hamo a ka mea hana laau, pela no ka hana uhauha iki ana, ka mea i manaoia he naauao, a he hanohano hoi.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 O ka naau o ka mea naauao, aia no ia ma kona lima akau; aka hoi, o ka naau o ka mea naaupo, aia no ia ma kona lima hema.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Aia hoi i ka hele ana o ka mea naaupo ma ke alanui, ua nalowale kona ike, a ua i iho la ia no na mea a pau, he naaupo ia.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Ina e ku o ia oe ka manao o ke alii, mai haalele i kou wahi; no ka mea, o ka noho malie, oia ka mea e hooluolu aku ai ka huhu nui.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Aia ka hewa au i ike iho ai malalo iho o ka la, e like me ka hewa i puka mai ai mai ke alii mai.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Ua hoonohoia ka naaupo ma na wahi kiokie, a o ka mea waiwai, ua noho oia ma kahi haahaa.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Ua ike au i na kauwa maluna o na lio, a i na'lii e hele wawae ana ma ka honua, me he poe kauwa la.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 O ka mea i eli i ka lua, e haule auanei oia iloko; a o ka mea i wawahi i ka pa, e nahu mai ka nahesa ia ia.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 O ka mea e uneune i na pohaku, e eha auanei oia ia lakou; a o ka mea i kaka iho i ka wahie, e moku auanei ia ilaila.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Ina kumumu ka hao, aole hoi ia e hookala i kona maka, alaila pono ke hoonui i ka ikaika; aka, he pono ka naauao i mea e hoopomaikai ai.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Oiaio, e nahu mai ka nahesa ke hoowalewale ole ia mai; aole hoi i oi aku ka maikai o ka mea holoholo olelo.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 O na olelo a ka waha o ka mea naauao, ua lokomaikai no, aka, o na lehelehe o ka mea naaupo, e ale auanei ia ia iho.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 O ka mua o na olelo a kona waha, he mea lapuwale ia; a o ka hope o kona waha, he huhu kolohe no ia.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Ua hoomahuahua ka mea naaupo i kana mau olelo; aole nae i ike ke kanaka i na mea e hiki mai ana; a o na mea e hiki mai ana mahope ona, nawai e hai aku ia ia?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 O ka hana a ka poe naaupo, he mea ia e hoomaluhiluhi ai ia lakou, no ka mea, aole ia i ike i ka hele i ke kulanakauhale.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Auwe oe, e ka aina, i ka wa i noho ai he keiki i alii nou, a e ai ai hoi kou poe kaukaualii i ke kakahiaka!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Pomaikai oe, e ka aina, i ka wa i noho ai ke keiki a na'lii i alii nou, a e ai ai kau poe kaukaualii i ka wa pono, no ka ikaika, aole no ka uhauha.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 No ka palaualelo, ua popopo na kaola; a no ka molowa o na lima, ua kulu ka hale.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 O ka ahaaina he mea ia e akaaka ai, a o ka waina, he mea ia e olioli ai; aka, o ke kala, he mea ia e hiki ai na mea a pau.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Mai hoino aku oe i ke alii, aole hoi ma kou manao; mai hoino aku hoi i ka poe waiwai iloko o kou keena moe, no ka mea, o na manu o ka lewa, e lawe aku lakou i ka leo, a o na mea eheu, na lakou hoi e hai aku ia mea.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
