Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris: quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Verba oris sapientis gratia: et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum:
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit: et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Væ tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
17 Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
Beata terra, cuius rex nobilis est, et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
In cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas, et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti: quia et aves cæli portabunt vocem tuam, et qui habet pennas annunciabit sententiam.
