Ecclesiastes 10
1 Gẹ́gẹ́ bí òkú eṣinṣin tí ń fún òróró ìkunra ní òórùn búburú, bẹ́ẹ̀ náà ni òmùgọ̀ díẹ̀ ṣe ń bo ọgbọ́n àti ọlá mọ́lẹ̀.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
2 Ọkàn ọlọ́gbọ́n a máa ṣí sí ohun tí ó tọ̀nà, ṣùgbọ́n ọkàn òmùgọ̀ sí ohun tí kò dára.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Kódà bí ó ti ṣe ń rìn láàrín ọ̀nà, òmùgọ̀ kò ní ọgbọ́n a sì máa fihan gbogbo ènìyàn bí ó ti gọ̀ tó.
Yea 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 Bí ìbínú alákòóso bá dìde lòdì sí ọ, ma ṣe fi ààyè rẹ sílẹ̀; ìdákẹ́ jẹ́ẹ́jẹ́ le è tú àṣìṣe ńlá.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 Ohun ibi kan wà tí mo ti rí lábẹ́ oòrùn, irú àṣìṣe tí ó dìde láti ọ̀dọ̀ alákòóso.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 A gbé aṣiwèrè sí ọ̀pọ̀ ipò tí ó ga jùlọ, nígbà tí ọlọ́rọ̀ gba àwọn ààyè tí ó kéré jùlọ.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Mo ti rí ẹrú lórí ẹṣin, nígbà tí ọmọ-aládé ń fi ẹsẹ̀ rìn bí ẹrú.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá gbẹ́ kòtò, ó le è ṣubú sínú rẹ̀; ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá la inú ògiri, ejò le è ṣán an.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá gbe òkúta le è ní ìpalára láti ipasẹ̀ wọn; ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá la ìtì igi le è ní ìpalára láti ipasẹ̀ wọn.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 Bí àáké bá kú tí ẹ̀gbẹ́ rẹ̀ kò sì sí ní pípọ́n; yóò nílò agbára púpọ̀ ṣùgbọ́n ọgbọ́n orí ni yóò mú àṣeyọrí wá.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Bí ejò bá ṣán ni kí a tó lo oògùn rẹ̀, kò sí èrè kankan fún olóògùn rẹ̀.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 Ọ̀rọ̀ tí ó wá láti ẹnu ọlọ́gbọ́n a máa ní oore-ọ̀fẹ́ ṣùgbọ́n ètè òmùgọ̀ fúnra rẹ̀ ni yóò parun.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀ jẹ́ òmùgọ̀; ìparí rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ ìsínwín búburú.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Wèrè a sì máa ṣàfikún ọ̀rọ̀. Kò sí ẹni tí ó mọ ohun tí ó ń bọ̀ ta ni ó le è sọ fún un ohun tí yóò ṣẹlẹ̀ lẹ́yìn rẹ̀?
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 Iṣẹ́ aṣiwèrè a máa dá a lágara kò sì mọ ojú ọ̀nà sí ìlú.
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Ègbé ni fún ọ, ìwọ ilẹ̀ tí ọba ń ṣe ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀ àti tí àwọn ọmọ-aládé ń ṣe àsè ní òwúrọ̀.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Ìbùkún ni fún ọ, ìwọ ilẹ̀ èyí tí ọba rẹ̀ jẹ́ ọmọ ọlọ́lá, àti tí àwọn ọmọ-aládé ń jẹun ní àsìkò tí ó yẹ, fún ìlera, tí kì í ṣe fún ìmutípara.
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 Bí ènìyàn bá ń lọ́ra, àjà ilé a máa jì bí ọwọ́ rẹ̀ bá ń ṣe ọ̀lẹ, ilé a máa jó.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 Ẹ̀rín rínrín ni a ṣe àsè fún, wáìnì a máa mú ayé dùn, ṣùgbọ́n owó ni ìdáhùn sí ohun gbogbo.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20 Ma ṣe bú ọba, kódà nínú èrò rẹ, tàbí kí o ṣépè fún ọlọ́rọ̀ ní ibi ibùsùn rẹ, nítorí pé ẹyẹ ojú ọ̀run le è gbé ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ ẹyẹ tí ó sì ní ìyẹ́ apá le è fi ẹjọ́ ohun tí o sọ sùn.
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.
