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 to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
2 Ọkàn ọlọ́gbọ́n a máa ṣí sí ohun tí ó tọ̀nà, ṣùgbọ́n ọkàn òmùgọ̀ sí ohun tí kò dára.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on 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, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
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 a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
5 Ohun ibi kan wà tí mo ti rí lábẹ́ oòrùn, irú àṣìṣe tí ó dìde láti ọ̀dọ̀ alákòóso.
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 A gbé aṣiwèrè sí ọ̀pọ̀ ipò tí ó ga jùlọ, nígbà tí ọlọ́rọ̀ gba àwọn ààyè tí ó kéré jùlọ.
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
7 Mo ti rí ẹrú lórí ẹṣin, nígbà tí ọmọ-aládé ń fi ẹsẹ̀ rìn bí ẹrú.
I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
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, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
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.
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may 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, 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 Bí ejò bá ṣán ni kí a tó lo oògùn rẹ̀, kò sí èrè kankan fún olóògùn rẹ̀.
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
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 pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
13 Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀ jẹ́ òmùgọ̀; ìparí rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ ìsínwín búburú.
The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, 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?
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 Iṣẹ́ aṣiwèrè a máa dá a lágara kò sì mọ ojú ọ̀nà sí ìlú.
The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into 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.
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
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.
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 Bí ènìyàn bá ń lọ́ra, àjà ilé a máa jì bí ọwọ́ rẹ̀ bá ń ṣe ọ̀lẹ, ilé a máa jó.
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
19 Ẹ̀rín rínrín ni a ṣe àsè fún, wáìnì a máa mú ayé dùn, ṣùgbọ́n owó ni ìdáhùn sí ohun gbogbo.
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —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.
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.
