Ecclesiastes 10 – NIVUK & CCB

New International Version – UK

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.

2The heart of the wise inclines to the right,

but the heart of the fool to the left.

3Even as fools walk along the road,

they lack sense

and show everyone how stupid they are.

4If a ruler’s anger rises against you,

do not leave your post;

calmness can lay great offences to rest.

5There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

6fools are put in many high positions,

while the rich occupy the low ones.

7I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.

8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;

whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;

whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the axe is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed,

but skill will bring success.

11If a snake bites before it is charmed,

the charmer receives no fee.

12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,

but fools are consumed by their own lips.

13At the beginning their words are folly;

at the end they are wicked madness –

14and fools multiply words.

No-one knows what is coming –

who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

15The toil of fools wearies them;

they do not know the way to town.

16Woe to the land whose king was a servant10:16 Or king is a child

and whose princes feast in the morning.

17Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth

and whose princes eat at a proper time –

for strength and not for drunkenness.

18Through laziness, the rafters sag;

because of idle hands, the house leaks.

19A feast is made for laughter,

wine makes life merry,

and money is the answer for everything.

20Do not revile the king 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.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

传道书 10:1-20

1死苍蝇会使芬芳的膏油发臭,

同样,一点点愚昧足以毁掉智慧和尊荣。

2智者的心引导他走正路,

愚人的心带领他入歧途。10:2 这一节希伯来文是“智者的心在右,愚人的心在左。”

3愚人走路时也无知,

并向众人显出他的愚昧。

4如果当权的人向你大发雷霆,

不要因此就离开岗位,

因为平心静气能避免大错。

5我发现日光之下有一件可悲的事,

似乎是掌权者所犯的错误:

6愚人身居许多高位,

富人却屈居在下。

7我曾看见奴仆骑在马上,

王子却像奴仆一样步行。

8挖掘陷阱的,自己必掉在其中;

拆围墙的,必被蛇咬;

9开凿石头的,必被砸伤;

劈木头的,必有危险。

10斧头钝了若不磨利,

用起来必多费力气,

但智慧能助人成功。

11弄蛇人行法术之前,

若先被蛇咬,

行法术还有什么用呢?

12智者口出恩言,

愚人的话毁灭自己。

13愚人开口是愚昧,

闭口是邪恶狂妄。

14愚人高谈阔论,

其实无人知道将来的事,

人死后,谁能告诉他世间的事呢?

15愚人因劳碌而筋疲力尽,

连进城的路也认不出来。

16一国之君若年幼无知,

他的臣宰从早到晚只顾宴乐,

那国就有祸了!

17一国之君若英明尊贵,

他的臣宰为了强身健体而节制饮食,

不酗酒宴乐,那国就有福了!

18屋顶因人懒惰而坍塌,

房间因人游手好闲而漏雨。

19宴席带来欢笑,

酒使人开怀,

钱使人万事亨通。

20不可咒诅君王,

连这样的意念都不可有,

也不可在卧室里咒诅富豪,

因为天空的飞鸟会通风报信,

有翅膀的会把事情四处传开。