< 전도서 10 >

1 죽은 파리가 향기름으로 악취가 나게 하는 것 같이 적은 우매가 지혜와 존귀로 패하게 하느니라
[A few] dead flies in [a bottle of] perfume cause [all] the perfume to stink. Similarly [SIM], a small amount of acting foolishly can have a greater effect than acting wisely.
2 지혜자의 마음은 오른편에 있고 우매자의 마음은 왼편에 있느니라
If people think sensibly, it will lead them to do what is right; if they think foolishly, it causes them to do what is wrong.
3 우매자는 길에 행할 때에도 지혜가 결핍하여 각 사람에게 자기의 우매한 것을 말하느니라
Even while foolish people walk along the road, they show that they do not have good sense; they show everyone that they are not wise.
4 주권자가 네게 분을 일으키거든 너는 네 자리를 떠나지 말라 공순이 큰 허물을 경하게 하느니라
Do not quit working for a ruler when he is angry with you; if you remain calm, he will [probably] stop being angry.
5 내가 해 아래서 한 가지 폐단 곧 주권자에게서 나는 허물인 듯한것을 보았노니
There is something [else] that I have seen here on this earth, something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong/inappropriate:
6 우매자가 크게 높은 지위를 얻고 부자가 낮은 지위에 앉는도다
They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
7 또 보았노니 종들은 말을 타고 방백들은 종처럼 땅에 걸어 다니는도다
They allow slaves [to ride] on horses [like rich people usually do], [but] they force officials to walk [like slaves usually do].
8 함정을 파는 자는 거기 빠질 것이요 담을 허는 자는 뱀에게 물리리라
[It is possible that] those who dig pits will fall into one of those pits. [It is possible that] someone who tears down a wall will be bitten by a snake [that is in that wall].
9 돌을 떠내는 자는 그로 인하여 상할 것이요 나무를 쪼개는 자는 그로 인하여 위험을 당하리라
If you work in a quarry, [it is possible that] a stone [will fall on you and] injure you. [It is possible that] men who split logs will be injured by one of those logs.
10 무딘 철 연장 날을 갈지 아니하면 힘이 더 드느니라 오직 지혜는 성공하기에 유익하니라
If your axe is not sharp [DOU], you will need to work harder [to cut down a tree], but by being wise, you will succeed.
11 방술을 베풀기 전에 뱀에게 물렸으면 술객은 무용하니라
If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.
12 지혜자의 입의 말은 은혜로우나 우매자의 입술은 자기를 삼키나니
Wise people say [MTY] what is sensible, and because of that, people honor them; but foolish people are destroyed by what they say [MTY].
13 그 입의 말의 시작은 우매요 끝은 광패니라
When foolish people start to talk, they say things that are foolish, and they end by saying things that are both wicked and foolish.
14 우매자는 말을 많이 하거니와 사람이 장래 일을 알지 못하나니 신후사를 알게 할 자가 누구이냐
They talk (too much/without ceasing). None of us knows what will happen in the future, or what will happen after we die.
15 우매자들의 수고는 제각기 곤하게 할 뿐이라 저희는 성읍에 들어갈 줄도 알지 못함이니라
Foolish people become [so] exhausted by the work that they do that they are unable to find the road to their town/homes.
16 왕은 어리고 대신들은 아침에 연락하는 이 나라여 화가 있도다
Terrible things will happen to the people of a nation whose ruler is a foolish young man, and whose [other] leaders continually eat, all day long, every day.
17 왕은 귀족의 아들이요 대신들은 취하려 함이 아니라 기력을 보하려고 마땅한 때에 먹는 이 나라여 복이 있도다
[But] a nation will prosper if its ruler is from a (noble/well-educated) family, and if its [other] leaders feast [only] at the proper times, and [if they eat and drink only] to be strong, not to become drunk.
18 게으른즉 석가래가 퇴락하고 손이 풀어진즉 집이 새느니라
Some men are very lazy [and do not repair the rafters], with the result that the rafters sag [and collapse]; and if they do not repair the roof, water will leak into the house [when it rains].
19 잔치는 희락을 위하여 베푸는 것이요 포도주는 생명을 기쁘게 하는 것이나 돈은 범사에 응용되느니라
Eating food and drinking wine causes us to laugh and be happy, [but] we are able to enjoy those things only if we have money [to buy them].
20 심중에라도 왕을 저주하지 말며 침방에서라도 부자를 저주하지 말라 공중의 새가 그 소리를 전하고 날짐승이 그 일을 전파할 것임이니라
Do not even think about cursing the king, or cursing rich [people, even] when you are [alone] in your bedroom, because [it is possible that] a little bird will hear [what you are saying], [and] tell those people what you said [about them].

< 전도서 10 >