Eclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor;

so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,

but a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler. 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. 8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it. 10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14 A fool also multiplies words.

Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him? 15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.

16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child,

and your princes eat in the morning!

17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles,

and your princes eat in due season,

for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in;

and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter,

and wine makes the life glad;

and money is the answer for all things.

20 Don’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.

He Whakaaro Momo Kē

1 Mā ngā ngaro mate ka piro whakahouhou ai te hinu a te kaiwhakananu;

ka pērā anō te whakaaro nui me te ingoa nui,

he iti noa te wairangi māna e tāmi.

2 Kei tōna ringa matau te ngākau o te tangata whakaaro nui;

kei tōna mauī ia te ngākau o te wairangi.

3 Āe rā hoki, ka haere te wairangi i te ara, ka taka ōna mahara,

ā, ka kōrero ia ki ngā tāngata katoa he wairangi ia.

4 Ki te ara te wairua o te rangatira, he riri ki a koe,

kaua tōu wāhi e whakarērea;

ka ai hoki te whakangāwari hei whakamārie mō ngā hara nui.

5 Tēnei tētahi kino i kitea e ahau i raro i te rā,

e rite tonu ana ki te hē i puta mai i te rangatira:

6 ko te wairangi e whakanohoia ana ki runga ki ngā wāhi tiketike rawa,

ā, ko ngā tāngata taonga e noho ana i te wāhi i raro.

7 I kite ahau i ngā kaimahi i runga i te hōiho,

ā, ko ngā rangatira e haere ana, ānō he kaimahi, i runga i te whenua.

8 Ko te tangata e keri ana i te rua, ka taka anō ki roto;

ko te tangata e wāhi ana i te taiepa, ka ngaua e te nākahi.

9 Ko te tangata e tārai ana i ngā kōhatu, ka mamae anō i reira;

ko te tangata e tata ana i te rākau, ka ora noa anō i reira.

10 Ki te pūhuki te rino, ā, kāhore e whakakoia te mata,

kia nui ake anō tōna kaha;

he pai ia ngā whakaaro nui hei whakatikatika.

11 Ki te ngau te nākahi i te mea kīanō i whakawaia,

kāhore hoki he painga o te kaiwhakawai.

12 He ātaahua ngā kupu a te māngai o te tangata whakaaro nui;

tēnā ko te wairangi ka horomia a ia anō e ōna ngutu.

13 Ko te tīmatanga o ngā kupu a tōna māngai he wairangi;

ko te mutunga o tāna kōrero, he haurangi, he hē.

14 He maha anō hoki ngā kupu a te wairangi;

engari e kore te tangata e mōhio ko te aha e puta mai.

Nā, ko ngā mea e puta mai i muri i a ia,

mā wai rā e whakaatu ki a ia?

15 Hōhā iho ngā wairangi i tāna mahi, i tāna mahi;

e kore nei hoki ia e mātau ki te haere ki te pā.

16 Auē te mate mōu, e te whenua he tamaiti nei tōu kīngi,

ā, e kai ana ōu rangatira i te ata!

17 Ka hari koe, e te whenua, he tamaiti nei nō ngā rangatira tōu kīngi,

ā, e kai ana ōu rangatira i te wā e tika ai –

hei mea whakakaha, ehara i te mea hei whakahaurangi.

18 Mā te māngere ka totohu iho ai te tuanui o te whare;

mā te ngoikore anō o ngā ringa ka tūturu ai te whare.

19 Hei mea mō te kata te hākari i tukua ai,

he mea whakahari anō te wāina;

ā, mā te hiriwa ka rite ai ngā mea katoa.

20 Kaua e kangā te kīngi, kaua rawa i roto i tōu whakaaro;

kaua hoki e kangā te tangata taonga i roto i tōu whare moenga;

nō te mea ka kawea te reo e tētahi manu o te rangi,

ka kōrerotia hoki taua mea e tētahi mea whai parirau.