1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom [and] honor.
1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。
2A wise man's heart [directs him] toward the right, but the foolish man's heart [directs him] toward the left.
2智慧人的心居右；愚昧人的心居左。
3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone [that] he is a fool.
3並且愚昧人行路顯出無知，對眾人說，他是愚昧人。
4If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.
4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。
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--
5我見日光之下有一件禍患，似乎出於掌權的錯誤，
6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
6就是愚昧人立在高位；富足人坐在低位。
7I have seen slaves [riding] on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
7我見過僕人騎馬，王子像僕人在地上步行。
8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.
8挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。
9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.
9鑿開（或譯：挪移）石頭的，必受損傷；劈開木頭的，必遭危險。
10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen [its] edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
10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。
11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
11未行法術以先，蛇若咬人，後行法術也是無益。
12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
12智慧人的口說出恩言；愚昧人的嘴吞滅自己。
13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.
13他口中的言語起頭是愚昧；他話的末尾是奸惡的狂妄。
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
14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？
15The toil of a fool [so] wearies him that he does not [even] know how to go to a city.
15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。
16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.
16邦國啊，你的王若是孩童，你的群臣早晨宴樂，你就有禍了！
17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness.
17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！
18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
18因人懶惰，房頂塌下；因人手懶，房屋滴漏。
19[Men] prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.
19設擺筵席是為喜笑。酒能使人快活；錢能叫萬事應心。
20Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.
20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。