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.
Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
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.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his 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.
Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
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 spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
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.
Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
6 Ua hoonohoia ka naaupo ma na wahi kiokie, a o ka mea waiwai, ua noho oia ma kahi haahaa.
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
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 had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
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 that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
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.
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
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, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
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 a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
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 pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
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 the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous 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, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell 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 dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into 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!
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
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.
How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
18 No ka palaualelo, ua popopo na kaola; a no ka molowa o na lima, ua kulu ka hale.
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
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.
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
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.
Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
