Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva 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 aestimat
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 dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet 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 quasi servos super terram
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 adfligetur 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 retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur 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 praecipitabunt 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 quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer 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 risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient 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 avis caeli portabit vocem tuam et qui habet pinnas adnuntiabit sententiam
