Ecclesiastes 10

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.

Mouch mouri gate tout boutèy odè. Yo fè l' santi. Konsa tou, yon sèl ti betiz ka fè tout gwo konesans ou pase pou anyen. Sa ka fè moun pa respekte ou ankò.

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

Kè yon moun ki gen konprann toujou panche pou fè sa ki byen, men kè moun sòt toujou panche pou fè sa ki mal.

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.

Menm lè moun sòt ap mache nan lari, li egare, li fè tout moun wè se moun sòt li ye.

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

Si chèf ou move sou ou, pa prese vire do ou ale. Si ou rete dousman, sa ka evite ou anpil malè.

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

Men yon lòt move bagay mwen wè ankò sou latè, lèfini se chèf yo ki lakòz sa.

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

Yo pran moun sòt mete yo nan gwo pozisyon, epi yo kite moun ki chaje ak konesans anba.

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

Mwen wè esklav ap karakole sou chwal yo, epi chèf yo menm k'ap mache apye tankou esklav.

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

Si ou fouye yon pi, se ou menm ki va tonbe ladan l'. Si ou kraze yon miray, se ou menm sèpan va mòde.

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

Si w'ap koupe wòch karyann, w'a blese. Si w'ap fann bwa, malè ka rive ou.

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.

Si dan rach ou pa koupe, si ou pa file l', ou gen pou travay pi rèd lè w'ap sèvi avè l'. Men bon konprann ap fè ou reyisi nan sa w'ap fè.

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

Ou te mèt konn chame sèpan, sa p'ap sèvi ou anyen si ou kite l' gen tan mòde ou.

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

Pawòl ki soti nan bouch yon moun ki gen konprann sèvi yon lwanj pou li. Men pawòl nan bouch moun sòt ap lakòz lanmò yo.

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

Lè yo konmanse pale, se betiz y'ap di. Men lè y'ap fini, se pawòl moun fou nèt y'ap di.

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

Moun sòt renmen pale anpil. Pesonn pa konnen sa k'ap rive denmen. Pesonn pa ka di nou sa k'ap rive apre nou mouri.

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

Moun sòt touye tèt li nan travay, li bliye chimen kay li.

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

Ala malè pou yon peyi lè li gen yon timoun alatèt li, lè chèf li yo tonbe nan manje depi granmaten.

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!

Men, ala bon sa bon pou yon peyi lè wa a se moun ki soti nan bon ras, lè chèf li yo manje lè pou yo manje pou yo ka jwenn fòs, epi ki pa lage kò yo nan banbòch.

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

Lè yon moun twò parese pou l' repare kay li, twati a ap koule, fetay la ap tonbe.

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

Yo fè resepsyon pou yo pran plezi yo, yo bwè diven pou fè kè yo kontan, men se lajan ki penmèt yo fè tou sa.

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.

Pa kritike yon wa, pa menm nan kè ou. Pa kritike rich yo, pa menm anndan chanm ou. Paske raje gen zòrèy.