Ecclesiastes

死蒼蠅使做香的膏油發出臭氣；這樣，一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。

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. {Dead...: Heb. Flies of death}

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.

並且愚昧人行路顯出無知，對眾人說，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. {his...: Heb. his heart}

掌權者的心若向你發怒，不要離開你的本位，因為柔和能免大過。

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

我見日光之下有一件禍患，似乎出於掌權的錯誤，

There is an evil {which} I have seen under the sun, as an error {which} proceedeth from the ruler: {from: Heb. from before}

就是愚昧人立在高位；富足人坐在低位。

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. {in great...: Heb. in great heights}

我見過僕人騎馬，王子像僕人在地上步行。

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

挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。

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

鑿開（或譯：挪移）石頭的，必受損傷；劈開木頭的，必遭危險。

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

鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費氣力；但得智慧指教，便有益處。

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.

未行法術以先，蛇若咬人，後行法術也是無益。

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. {a babbler: Heb. the master of the tongue}

智慧人的口說出恩言；愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。

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

他口中的言語起頭是愚昧；他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。

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

愚昧人多有言語，人卻不知將來有甚麼事；他身後的事誰能告訴他呢？

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

凡愚昧人，他的勞碌使自己困乏，因為連進城的路，他也不知道。

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

邦國啊，你的王若是孩童，你的群臣早晨宴樂，你就有禍了！

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

邦國啊，你的王若是貴冑之子，你的群臣按時吃喝，為要補力，不為酒醉，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!

因人懶惰，房頂塌下；因人手懶，房屋滴漏。

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

設擺筵席是為喜笑。酒能使人快活；錢能叫萬事應心。

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all {things}. {maketh...: Heb. maketh glad the life}

你不可咒詛君王，也不可心懷此念；在你臥房也不可咒詛富戶。因為空中的鳥必傳揚這聲音，有翅膀的也必述說這事。

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. {thought: or, conscience}