伝道者の書 10
1 死し蝿は和香者の膏を臭くしこれを腐らす 少許の愚癡は智慧と尊榮よりも重し
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 智者の心はその右に愚者の心はその左に行くなり
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 愚者は出て途を行にあたりてその心たらず自己の愚なることを一切の人に告ぐ
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 君長たる者汝にむかひて腹たつとも汝の本處を離るる勿れ温順は大なる愆を生ぜしめざるなり
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.
5 我日の下に一の患事あるを見たり是は君長たる者よりいづる過誤に似たり
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 すなはち愚なる者高き位に置かれ貴き者卑き處に坐る
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 我また僕たる者が馬に乗り王侯たる者が僕のごとく地の上に歩むを觀たり
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 坑を掘る者はみづから之におちいり石垣を毀つ者は蛇に咬れん
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 石を打くだく者はそれがために傷を受け木を割る者はそれがために危難に遭ん
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 鐵の鈍くなれるあらんにその刃を磨ざれば力を多く之にもちひざるを得ず 智慧は功を成に益あるなり
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 蛇もし呪術を聽ずして咬ば呪術師は用なし
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 智者の口の言語は恩徳あり 愚者の唇はその身を呑ほろぼす
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 愚者の口の言は始は愚なり またその言は終は狂妄にして惡し
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 愚者は言詞を衆くす 人は後に有ん事を知ず 誰かその身の後にあらんところの事を述るを得ん
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 愚者の勞苦はその身を疲らす彼は邑にいることをも知ざるなり
The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 その王は童子にしてその侯伯は朝に食をなす國よ 汝は禍なるかな
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 その王は貴族の子またその侯伯は酔樂むためならず力を補ふために適宜き時に食をなす國よ 汝は福なるかな
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 懶惰ところよりして屋背は落ち 手を垂をるところよりして家屋は漏る
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 食事をもて笑ひ喜ぶの物となし酒をもて快樂を取れり 銀子は何事にも應ずるなり
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 汝心の中にても王たる者を詛ふなかれ また寝室にても富者を詛なかれ 天空の鳥その聲を傳へ羽翼ある者その事を布べければなり
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
