Eklezyas 10
1 Mouch mouri gate tout boutèy odè. Yo fè l' santi. Konsa tou, yon sèl ti betiz ka fè tout gwo konesans ou pase pou anyen. Sa ka fè moun pa respekte ou ankò.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 Kè yon moun ki gen konprann toujou panche pou fè sa ki byen, men kè moun sòt toujou panche pou fè sa ki mal.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Menm lè moun sòt ap mache nan lari, li egare, li fè tout moun wè se moun sòt li ye.
Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
4 Si chèf ou move sou ou, pa prese vire do ou ale. Si ou rete dousman, sa ka evite ou anpil malè.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 Men yon lòt move bagay mwen wè ankò sou latè, lèfini se chèf yo ki lakòz sa.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Yo pran moun sòt mete yo nan gwo pozisyon, epi yo kite moun ki chaje ak konesans anba.
folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Mwen wè esklav ap karakole sou chwal yo, epi chèf yo menm k'ap mache apye tankou esklav.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8 Si ou fouye yon pi, se ou menm ki va tonbe ladan l'. Si ou kraze yon miray, se ou menm sèpan va mòde.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Si w'ap koupe wòch karyann, w'a blese. Si w'ap fann bwa, malè ka rive ou.
Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 Si dan rach ou pa koupe, si ou pa file l', ou gen pou travay pi rèd lè w'ap sèvi avè l'. Men bon konprann ap fè ou reyisi nan sa w'ap fè.
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Ou te mèt konn chame sèpan, sa p'ap sèvi ou anyen si ou kite l' gen tan mòde ou.
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12 Pawòl ki soti nan bouch yon moun ki gen konprann sèvi yon lwanj pou li. Men pawòl nan bouch moun sòt ap lakòz lanmò yo.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Lè yo konmanse pale, se betiz y'ap di. Men lè y'ap fini, se pawòl moun fou nèt y'ap di.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Moun sòt renmen pale anpil. Pesonn pa konnen sa k'ap rive denmen. Pesonn pa ka di nou sa k'ap rive apre nou mouri.
A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Moun sòt touye tèt li nan travay, li bliye chimen kay li.
The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Ala malè pou yon peyi lè li gen yon timoun alatèt li, lè chèf li yo tonbe nan manje depi granmaten.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Men, ala bon sa bon pou yon peyi lè wa a se moun ki soti nan bon ras, lè chèf li yo manje lè pou yo manje pou yo ka jwenn fòs, epi ki pa lage kò yo nan banbòch.
Happy 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 Lè yon moun twò parese pou l' repare kay li, twati a ap koule, fetay la ap tonbe.
By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 Yo fè resepsyon pou yo pran plezi yo, yo bwè diven pou fè kè yo kontan, men se lajan ki penmèt yo fè tou sa.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20 Pa kritike yon wa, pa menm nan kè ou. Pa kritike rich yo, pa menm anndan chanm ou. Paske raje gen zòrèy.
Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
