第 10 章

 

10:1

死苍蝇，使药剂师的香膏发臭；同样，一点愚昧，败坏享有智慧和荣誉的人。

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour： so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

 

10:2

智慧人的心居右，愚昧人的心居左。

A wise man's heart is at his right hand；but a fool's heart at his left.

 

10:3

也是，当愚昧人行路，他的智慧不济，对众人说他是愚昧人。

Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

 

10:4

君王的灵，若向你发怒，别离开你的本位，因为屈服平息大过。

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place；for yielding pacifieth great offences.

 

10:5

我见日光之下，有一件恶事，好像出于统治者的错误。

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler：

 

10:6

愚人立在尊位，富人坐在下位。

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

 

10:7

我见过，仆人骑马，王子像仆人，在地上步行。

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

 

10:8

挖坑的，将掉入；拆篱的，将被蛇咬。

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it；and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

 

10:9

搬石的，将受伤害；擘木的，将遭危险。

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith；and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

 

10:10

斧头钝了，若不磨刃，必多费力气；但智慧，有益于引导。

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength： but wisdom is profitable to direct.

 

10:11

当然，没有法术，蛇会咬人，但胡言乱语的人，怕也无益。

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment：and a babbler is no better.

 

10:12

智慧人的口，说出雅言；愚昧人的嘴，吞灭自己。

The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious；but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

 

10:13

他口中的言语，起头是愚昧；他谈话的末尾，是邪恶的疯狂。

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness：and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

 

10:14

愚昧人也是多话，人不知将来有什么事，身后有什么事，谁能告诉他呢。

A fool also is full of words：a man cannot tell what shall be；and what shall be after him, who can tell him？

 

10:15

愚昧人的劳碌，使他们中每个人疲乏，因为他不知道，怎样进城（门路）。

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

 

10:16

邦国阿，你的王若是孩童，你的群臣早上吃喝，你就有祸了。

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

 

10:17

邦国阿，你的王若是贵胄之子，你的群臣，是为了力量，不是为了醉酒，按时吃喝，你就有福了。

Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

 

10:18

因人太懒，房顶倒塌；因人手懒，房屋滴漏。

By much slothfulness the building decayeth；and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

 

10:19

摆设筵席，是为喜笑，酒使人快活；但钱应万事。

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry：but money answereth all things.

 

10:20

你不可诅咒君王，也不可心怀此念；在你卧房，不可诅咒富人；因为空中的鸟，将传音，有翅的，将说事。

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought；and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber： for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.