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智慧使人成功

10 几只死苍蝇能使做香料者的膏油发霉变臭,一点点愚昧比智慧和荣誉的影响更大。 智慧人的心向右,愚昧人的心偏左。 愚昧人连走路的时候,也显出无知;他对每一个人表现出他是个愚昧人(“他对每一个人表现出他是个愚昧人”或译:“他称每一个人都是愚昧的”)。 如果掌权者向你发怒,你不要离开原位,因为柔顺能免大过。

在日光之下我看见一件憾事,好象是出于官长无意的错误, 就是愚昧人得居众多高位,富有的人却处卑位。 我见过奴仆骑马,贵族却像奴仆一样在地上步行。

挖陷阱的,自己掉进去;拆墙垣的,有蛇来咬他。 采石的,被石打伤;劈柴的,被柴损害。 10 斧头若钝了,还不把斧刃磨快,就必多费力气;智慧的好处在于助人成功。 11 未行法术先被蛇咬,那么,法术对行法术的人就毫无用处。

12 智慧人的口,说出恩言;愚昧人的嘴,却吞灭自己。 13 愚昧人的话开头是愚昧,结尾是邪恶狂妄。 14 愚昧人多言多语。人不知道将来会有甚么事,谁能告诉他死后会发生甚么事呢? 15 愚昧人的劳碌徒使自己困乏,他连怎样进城也不知道。

16 邦国啊,如果你的王是个孩童,而你的大臣又一早吃喝宴乐,你就有祸了。 17 邦国啊,如果你的王是贵冑之子,而你的大臣又按时吃喝,为要得力,不为醉酒,你就有福了。 18 房顶塌下是因为懒惰,房屋滴漏是因为懒得动手。 19 设宴是为欢笑,酒能使人生快活,金钱能解决万事。 20 不要在意念中咒骂君王,也不要在卧房中咒骂财主,因为空中的飞鸟会传声,有翅膀的会述说这事。

Proverbs about Wisdom and Foolishness

10 As dead flies cause the perfumer’s ointment to stink,
so also does a little foolishness to one’s reputation of wisdom and honor.
A wise man’s heart tends toward his right,
    but a fool’s heart tends toward his left.
Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense;
    he proclaims to everyone that he’s a fool.
If your overseer gets angry at you, don’t resign,
    because calmness pacifies great offenses.

Here’s another tragedy that I’ve observed on earth,
    a kind of error that comes from an overseer:
Foolishness is given great honor,
    while the prosperous sit in lowly places.[a]
And I have observed servants riding[b] on horses,
    while princes walk on the ground like servants.

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,
    and whoever breaks through a wall
        may suffer a snake bite.
Someone who quarries stone might be injured;
    someone splitting logs can fall into danger.

10 If someone’s ax is blunt—the edge isn’t sharpened—
    then more strength will be needed.
        Putting wisdom to work will bring success.
11 If a serpent strikes despite being charmed,
    there’s no point in being a snake charmer.

12 The words spoken by the wise are gracious,
    but the lips of a fool will devour him.
13 He begins his speech with foolishness,
    and concludes it with evil madness.
14 The fool overflows with words,
    and no one can predict what will happen.
As to what will happen after him,
    who can explain it?
15 The work of a fool so wears him out
    that he can’t even find his way to town.

16 Woe to the land whose king is a youth
    and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 That land is blessed whose king is of noble birth,
    whose princes feast at the right time,
        for strength, and not to become drunk.

18 Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates,
    and a house leaks because of idleness.

19 Festivals are for laughter,
    wine makes life pleasant,
        and money speaks to everything.

20 Do not curse the king,
    even in your thoughts.
Do not curse the rich,
    even in your bedroom.
For a bird will fly by and tell what you say,
    or something with wings may talk about it.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:6 The Heb. lacks places
  2. Ecclesiastes 10:7 The Heb. lacks riding

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