Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
2 The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris: quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit multo labore, exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
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 swallow up himself.
Verba oris sapientis gratia: et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum:
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
14 And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit: et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Væ tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, 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 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
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.
