Ecclesiastes 10
Darby Translation
10 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
2 The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
傳道書 10
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
10 死蒼蠅會使芬芳的膏油發臭，
同樣，一點點愚昧足以毀掉智慧和尊榮。
2 智者的心引導他走正路，
愚人的心帶領他入歧途。[a]
3 愚人走路時也無知，
並向眾人顯出他的愚昧。
4 如果當權的人向你大發雷霆，
不要因此就離開崗位，
因為平心靜氣能避免大錯。
5 我發現日光之下有一件可悲的事，
似乎是掌權者所犯的錯誤：
6 愚人身居許多高位，
富人卻屈居在下。
7 我曾看見奴僕騎在馬上，
王子卻像奴僕一樣步行。
8 挖掘陷阱的，自己必掉在其中；
拆圍牆的，必被蛇咬；
9 開鑿石頭的，必被砸傷；
劈木頭的，必有危險。
10 斧頭鈍了若不磨利，
用起來必多費力氣，
但智慧能助人成功。
11 弄蛇人行法術之前，
若先被蛇咬，
行法術還有什麼用呢？
12 智者口出恩言，
愚人的話毀滅自己。
13 愚人開口是愚昧，
閉口是邪惡狂妄。
14 愚人高談闊論，
其實無人知道將來的事，
人死後，誰能告訴他世間的事呢？
15 愚人因勞碌而精疲力盡，
連進城的路也認不出來。
16 一國之君若年幼無知，
他的臣宰從早到晚只顧宴樂，
那國就有禍了！
17 一國之君若英明尊貴，
他的臣宰為了強身健體而節制飲食，
不酗酒宴樂，那國就有福了！
18 屋頂因人懶惰而坍塌，
房間因人遊手好閒而漏雨。
19 宴席帶來歡笑，
酒使人開懷，
錢使人萬事亨通。
20 不可咒詛君王，
連這樣的意念都不可有，
也不可在臥室裡咒詛富豪，
因為天空的飛鳥會通風報信，
有翅膀的會把事情四處傳開。
Footnotes
- 10·2 這一節希伯來文是「智者的心在右，愚人的心在左。」
Ecclesiastes 10
New King James Version
Wisdom and Folly
10 Dead[a] flies [b]putrefy the perfumer’s ointment,
And cause it to give off a foul odor;
So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
But a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Even when a fool walks along the way,
He lacks wisdom,
(A)And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you,
(B)Do not leave your post;
For (C)conciliation[c] pacifies great offenses.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
As an error proceeding from the ruler:
6 (D)Folly is set in [d]great dignity,
While the rich sit in a lowly place.
7 I have seen servants (E)on horses,
While princes walk on the ground like servants.
8 (F)He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,
And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom [e]brings success.
11 A serpent may bite (G)when it is not charmed;
The [f]babbler is no different.
12 (H)The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
But (I)the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is raving madness.
14 (J)A fool also multiplies words.
No man knows what is to be;
Who can tell him (K)what will be after him?
15 The labor of fools wearies them,
For they do not even know how to go to the city!
16 (L)Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
And your princes feast in the morning!
17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles,
And your (M)princes feast at the proper time—
For strength and not for drunkenness!
18 Because of laziness the [g]building decays,
And (N)through idleness of hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter,
And (O)wine makes merry;
But money answers everything.
20 (P)Do not curse the king, even in your thought;
Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
For a bird of the air may carry your voice,
And a bird in flight may tell the matter.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:1 Lit. Flies of death
- Ecclesiastes 10:1 Tg., Vg. omit putrefy
- Ecclesiastes 10:4 Lit. healing, health
- Ecclesiastes 10:6 exalted positions
- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Lit. is a successful advantage
- Ecclesiastes 10:11 Lit. master of the tongue
- Ecclesiastes 10:18 Lit. rafters sink
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
