Add parallel Print Page Options

论智愚

10 死苍蝇使做香的膏油发出臭气,这样,一点愚昧也能败坏智慧和尊荣。 智慧人的心居右,愚昧人的心居左。 并且愚昧人行路显出无知,对众人说他是愚昧人。 掌权者的心若向你发怒,不要离开你的本位,因为柔和能免大过。

我见日光之下有一件祸患,似乎出于掌权的错误, 就是愚昧人立在高位,富足人坐在低位。 我见过仆人骑马,王子像仆人在地上步行。

挖陷坑的自己必掉在其中,拆墙垣的必为蛇所咬。 凿开[a]石头的必受损伤,劈开木头的必遭危险。 10 铁器钝了,若不将刃磨快,就必多费气力,但得智慧指教便有益处。 11 未行法术以先蛇若咬人,后行法术也是无益。

智者出言惠人

12 智慧人的口说出恩言,愚昧人的嘴吞灭自己。 13 他口中的言语起头是愚昧,他话的末尾是奸恶的狂妄。 14 愚昧人多有言语,人却不知将来有什么事,他身后的事谁能告诉他呢? 15 凡愚昧人,他的劳碌使自己困乏,因为连进城的路他也不知道。

16 邦国啊,你的王若是孩童,你的群臣早晨宴乐,你就有祸了! 17 邦国啊,你的王若是贵胄之子,你的群臣按时吃喝,为要补力,不为酒醉,你就有福了!

论懈惰

18 因人懒惰,房顶塌下;因人手懒,房屋滴漏。 19 设摆筵席是为喜笑,酒能使人快活,钱能叫万事应心。 20 你不可咒诅君王,也不可心怀此念,在你卧房也不可咒诅富户。因为空中的鸟必传扬这声音,有翅膀的也必述说这事。

Footnotes

  1. 传道书 10:9 或作:挪移。

10 As dead flies spoil the perfumer’s oil,
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
The mind of the wise tends toward the right,
    but the mind of the fool toward the left.
Fools lack all sense even when they walk down the street;
    they show everyone that they are fools.
If a ruler’s temper rises against you,
    don’t leave your post, because calmness alleviates great offenses.

There’s an evil that I have seen under the sun: the kind of mistake that comes from people in power. Fools are appointed to high posts, while the rich sit in lowly positions. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walk on foot like slaves.

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,
    and whoever breaks through a wall
    may be bitten by a snake.
Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
    whoever splits logs
    may be endangered by them.
10 If an ax is dull
    and one doesn’t sharpen it first,
    then one must exert more force.
It’s profitable to be skillful and wise.
11 If a snake bites before it’s charmed,
    then there’s no profit
    for the snake charmer.
12 Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial,
    but fools are devoured by their own lips.
13 Fools start out talking foolishness
    and end up speaking awful nonsense.
14 Fools talk too much!
    No one knows what will happen;
    no one can say what will happen in the future.
15 The hard work of fools tires them out
    because they don’t even know the way to town!
16 Too bad for you, land,
    whose king is a boy
    and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Happy is the land
    whose king is dignified
    and whose princes feast at the right time for energy,
        not for drunkenness.
18 Through laziness, the roof sags;
    through idle hands, the house leaks.
19 Feasts are made for laughter,
    wine cheers the living,
    and money answers everything.[a]

20 Don’t curse a king even in private; don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird could carry your voice; some winged creature could report what you said!

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:19 Or money is everyone's answer.

10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
    so a little folly(A) outweighs wisdom and honor.
The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
    but the heart of the fool to the left.
Even as fools walk along the road,
    they lack sense
    and show everyone(B) how stupid they are.
If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
    do not leave your post;(C)
    calmness can lay great offenses to rest.(D)

There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
    the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
Fools are put in many high positions,(E)
    while the rich occupy the low ones.
I have seen slaves on horseback,
    while princes go on foot like slaves.(F)

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;(G)
    whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(H)
Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
    whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.(I)

10 If the ax is dull
    and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
    but skill will bring success.

11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
    the charmer receives no fee.(J)

12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,(K)
    but fools are consumed by their own lips.(L)
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
    at the end they are wicked madness—
14     and fools multiply words.(M)

No one knows what is coming—
    who can tell someone else what will happen after them?(N)

15 The toil of fools wearies them;
    they do not know the way to town.

16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant[a](O)
    and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
    and whose princes eat at a proper time—
    for strength and not for drunkenness.(P)

18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
    because of idle hands, the house leaks.(Q)

19 A feast is made for laughter,
    wine(R) makes life merry,
    and money is the answer for everything.

20 Do not revile the king(S) even in your thoughts,
    or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
    and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:16 Or king is a child