< 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.
muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva 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 aestimat
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 dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet 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 quasi servos super terram
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 adfligetur 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 retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur 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 praecipitabunt 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 quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
labor stultorum adfliget 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!
vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer 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 risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient 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 avis caeli portabit vocem tuam et qui habet pinnas adnuntiabit sententiam