1Surnud kärbsed panevad haisema salvisegaja õli, pisut rumalust võib mõjuda rohkem kui tarkus ja au.
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2Targa süda hoiab paremale ja albi süda pahemale.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Teed käieski puudub albil mõistus, ja igaühele ilmneb, et ta on alp.
3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4Kui valitseja viha tõuseb sinu vastu, siis ära jäta maha oma kohta, sest kannatlikkus hoiab ära suuri patte.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5Halb asi, mida ma nägin päikese all, on see,
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6rumalus pannakse kõrgele kohale, suured ja rikkad aga istuvad madalal.
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7Ma olen näinud sulaseid hobuste seljas ja vürste käivat maas otsekui sulased.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8Kes augu kaevab, langeb ise sinna sisse, ja kes müüri maha kisub, seda salvab madu.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Kes kive kangutab, teeb enesele häda, kes puid lõhub, ohustab ennast.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10Kui raud on nüri ja tera ei ihuta, siis tuleb jõudu pingutada; aga tulemuseks on tarkus tarvilik.
10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11Kui madu salvab, enne kui on lausutud, siis pole lausujast mingit kasu.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12Sõnad targa suust toovad poolehoidu, aga albi neelavad ta oma huuled:
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13tema kõne algus on alpimine ja tema kõne lõpp on kurjakuulutav meeletus.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14Alp teeb palju sõnu, ent ükski inimene ei tea, mis tuleb, ja kes ütleks temale, mis sünnib pärast teda?
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15Albi vaev väsitab seda, kes linnateed ei tunne.
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16Häda sulle, maa, kui su kuningaks on sulane ja su vürstid pidutsevad juba hommikul!
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17Õnnelik oled, maa, kui su kuningas on vaba mehe poeg ja su vürstid pidutsevad õigel ajal nagu mehed, aga mitte nagu joodikud!
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18Suure laiskuse pärast vajuvad sarikad, ja kui käsi süles peetakse, tilgub koda läbi.
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19Mõnu pärast valmistatakse rooga, vein teeb elu rõõmsaks, ja raha eest saab kõike.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20Isegi mõttes ära sajata kuningat, ja oma magamiskambris ära sajata rikast, sest taeva lind viib hääle välja ja tiivuline teatab loost!
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.