Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly!
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 the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
3 And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, 'He [is] a fool.'
並且愚昧人行路顯出無知， 對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
4 If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
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 evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
我見日光之下有一件禍患， 似乎出於掌權的錯誤，
6 He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
7 I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
我見過僕人騎馬， 王子像僕人在地上步行。
8 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中； 拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。
9 Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
鑿開石頭的，必受損傷； 劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
10 If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
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 biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
未行法術以先，蛇若咬人， 後行法術也是無益。
12 Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
智慧人的口說出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
他口中的言語起頭是愚昧； 他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。
14 And the fool multiplieth words: 'Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to 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 wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
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 land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do eat 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 Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
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 slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
因人懶惰，房頂塌下； 因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
19 For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
設擺筵席是為喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 錢能叫萬事應心。
20 Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
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。
