1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
1Mrtve muhe napravijo, da se mazilarju mazilo skazi in usmradi: enako malo neumnosti lahko prevlada modrost in slavo.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
2Modrega srce je na pravi strani njegovi, a bedakovo na napačni.
3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
3Saj tudi ko po poti gre, manjka bedaku razuma in vsakemu pove, da je bedak.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
4Ako se vzdigne vladarjeva jeza zoper tebe, ne zapusti mesta svojega; kajti krotkost zabrani velike pregrehe.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
5Je zlo, ki sem ga videl pod solncem, pomota namreč, ki jo povzroča vladar:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
6neumnost posajajo na najvišja mesta in bogatini morajo sedeti na nizkih.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
7Videl sem hlapce na konjih, knezi pa so šli peš kakor hlapci.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
8Kdor koplje jamo, lahko pade vanjo, in kdor predira ograjo, ga piči gad.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
9Kdor lomi kamenje, se lahko ž njim poškoduje, in kdor kolje drva, je v nevarnosti od njih.
10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
10Kadar se železo skrha in ostrine kdo ne nabrusi, tedaj mora človek bolj napenjati svojo moč; ali modrost je koristna, da dosežeš uspeh.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
11Če kača piči, preden jo zakolne, nima nič dobička zaklinjalec.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
12Besede iz ust modrega moža so milobne, ustnice bedakove pa njega samega pogoltnejo.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13Začetek besed ust njegovih je neumnost in konec govorjenja njegovega je zlobna blaznost.
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
14Bedak rad govori veliko besed; toda človek ne ve, kaj bode, in kar pride za njim, kdo mu oznani?
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
15Trud bedaka izmozgava, ker niti ne ve, kako bi šel v mesto.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
16Gorje ti, o dežela, ako je tvoj kralj otrok in tvoji knezi se gosté že zjutraj!
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!
17Srečna si, o dežela, če je tvoj kralj sin plemenitnikov in tvoji knezi jedo o pravem času v okrepčavo in ne iz požrešnosti!
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
18Vsled lenobe gnije streha in po zanikarnosti kaplje v hišo.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
19Gostí se napravljajo v razveseljevanje in vino razvedruje življenje, denar pa zagotovi vse.Ne preklinjaj kralja, še v svojih mislih ne, in v svoji spalnici ne kolni bogatina, kajti ptice nebeške bi odnesle glas in krilatci bi oznanil besedo.
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.
20Ne preklinjaj kralja, še v svojih mislih ne, in v svoji spalnici ne kolni bogatina, kajti ptice nebeške bi odnesle glas in krilatci bi oznanil besedo.