伝道者の書 10
1 死し蝿は和香者の膏を臭くしこれを腐らす 少許の愚癡は智慧と尊榮よりも重し
Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking odour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
2 智者の心はその右に愚者の心はその左に行くなり
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart is at his left.
3 愚者は出て途を行にあたりてその心たらず自己の愚なることを一切の人に告ぐ
Also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 君長たる者汝にむかひて腹たつとも汝の本處を離るる勿れ温順は大なる愆を生ぜしめざるなり
If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 我日の下に一の患事あるを見たり是は君長たる者よりいづる過誤に似たり
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 すなはち愚なる者高き位に置かれ貴き者卑き處に坐る
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 我また僕たる者が馬に乗り王侯たる者が僕のごとく地の上に歩むを觀たり
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 坑を掘る者はみづから之におちいり石垣を毀つ者は蛇に咬れん
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 石を打くだく者はそれがために傷を受け木を割る者はそれがために危難に遭ん
Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cutteth wood shall be endangered by it.
10 鐵の鈍くなれるあらんにその刃を磨ざれば力を多く之にもちひざるを得ず 智慧は功を成に益あるなり
If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 蛇もし呪術を聽ずして咬ば呪術師は用なし
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 智者の口の言語は恩徳あり 愚者の唇はその身を呑ほろぼす
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 愚者の口の言は始は愚なり またその言は終は狂妄にして惡し
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 愚者は言詞を衆くす 人は後に有ん事を知ず 誰かその身の後にあらんところの事を述るを得ん
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 愚者の勞苦はその身を疲らす彼は邑にいることをも知ざるなり
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 その王は童子にしてその侯伯は朝に食をなす國よ 汝は禍なるかな
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 その王は貴族の子またその侯伯は酔樂むためならず力を補ふために適宜き時に食をなす國よ 汝は福なるかな
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 懶惰ところよりして屋背は落ち 手を垂をるところよりして家屋は漏る
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 食事をもて笑ひ喜ぶの物となし酒をもて快樂を取れり 銀子は何事にも應ずるなり
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20 汝心の中にても王たる者を詛ふなかれ また寝室にても富者を詛なかれ 天空の鳥その聲を傳へ羽翼ある者その事を布べければなり
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
