Ecclesiastes 10 – NIV & CCBT

New International Version

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

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 offenses 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 ax 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 (Traditional)

傳道書 10:1-20

1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。10·2 這一節希伯來文是「智者的心在右,愚人的心在左。」

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。