Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.
Las moscas muertas hacen heder y dar mal olor el perfume del perfumador; y al estimado por sabiduría y honra una pequeña insensatez.
2 The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.
El corazón del sabio está a su mano derecha: mas el corazón del insensato, a su mano izquierda.
3 And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.
Y aun cuando el insensato va por el camino, su cordura falta; y dice a todos: insensato es.
4 If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.
Si espíritu de señor te acometiere, no dejes tu lugar; porque la flojedad hará reposar grandes pecados.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:
Hay otro mal que ví debajo del sol, como salido de delante del señor por yerro:
6 The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.
La insensatez está asentada en grandes alturas; y los ricos están sentados en bajeza.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.
Ví siervos encima de caballos, y príncipes que andaban, como siervos, a tierra.
8 He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.
El que hiciere el hoyo, caerá en él; y el que aportillare el vallado, morderle ha la serpiente.
9 He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.
El que mudare las piedras, tendrá trabajo en ellas: el que cortare la leña, peligrará en ella.
10 If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.
Si se embotare el hierro, y su filo no fuere aguzado, añadir más fuerza: mas la bondad de la sabiduría excede.
11 If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
Si la serpiente mordiere no encantada, no es más el lenguaz.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.
Las palabras de la boca del sabio son gracia: mas los labios del insensato lo echan a perder.
13 The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.
El principio de las palabras de su boca es insensatez; y el fin de su habla, desvarío malo.
14 The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?
El insensato multiplica palabras, y dice: No sabe hombre lo que ha de ser: ¿y quién le hará saber, lo que será después de él?
15 The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.
El trabajo de los insensatos los fatiga; porque no saben por donde van a la ciudad.
16 Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.
¡Ay de ti tierra, cuando tu rey fuere mozo, y tus príncipes comen de mañana!
17 Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.
¡Bienaventurada tierra tú, cuando tu rey fuere hijo de nobles, y tus príncipes comen a su hora por la fuerza, y no por el beber!
18 When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
Por la pereza se cae la techumbre; y por la flojedad de manos se llueve la casa.
19 A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.
Por el placer se hace el convite, y el vino alegra los vivos; y el dinero responde a todo.
20 Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.
Ni aun en tu pensamiento digas mal del rey; ni en los secretos de tu cámara digas mal del rico; porque las aves del cielo llevarán la voz; y las que tienen alas, harán saber la palabra.
