Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.
死蒼蠅使做香的膏油發出臭氣； 這樣，一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。
2 The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a foole is at his left hand.
智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
3 And also when the foole goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he telleth vnto all that he is a foole.
並且愚昧人行路顯出無知， 對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
4 If the spirite of him that ruleth, rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place: for gentlenes pacifieth great sinnes.
掌權者的心若向你發怒， 不要離開你的本位， 因為柔和能免大過。
5 There is an euil that I haue seene vnder the sunne, as an errour that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.
我見日光之下有一件禍患， 似乎出於掌權的錯誤，
6 Follie is set in great excellencie, and the riche set in the lowe place.
就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
7 I haue seene seruants on horses, and princes walking as seruants on the ground.
我見過僕人騎馬， 王子像僕人在地上步行。
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中； 拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。
9 He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.
鑿開石頭的，必受損傷； 劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
10 If the yron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more strength: but the excellencie to direct a thing is wisedome.
鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費氣力； 但得智慧指教，便有益處。
11 If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.
未行法術以先，蛇若咬人， 後行法術也是無益。
12 The words of ye mouth of a wise man haue grace: but the lippes of a foole deuoure himselfe.
智慧人的口說出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
13 The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse.
他口中的言語起頭是愚昧； 他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。
14 For the foole multiplieth woordes, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?
愚昧人多有言語， 人卻不知將來有甚麼事； 他身後的事誰能告訴他呢？
15 The labour of the foolish doeth wearie him: for he knoweth not to goe into the citie.
凡愚昧人，他的勞碌使自己困乏， 因為連進城的路，他也不知道。
16 Woe to thee, O lande, when thy King is a childe, and thy princes eate in the morning.
邦國啊，你的王若是孩童， 你的群臣早晨宴樂， 你就有禍了！
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy King is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in time, for strength and not for drunkennesse.
邦國啊，你的王若是貴冑之子， 你的群臣按時吃喝， 為要補力，不為酒醉， 你就有福了！
18 By slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through.
因人懶惰，房頂塌下； 因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
19 They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the liuing, but siluer answereth to all.
設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 錢能叫萬事應心。
20 Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the foule of the heauen shall carie the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.
你不可咒詛君王， 也不可心懷此念； 在你臥房也不可咒詛富戶。 因為空中的鳥必傳揚這聲音， 有翅膀的也必述說這事。
