Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
Muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
2 The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
3 When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool.
Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos aestimat.
4 If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
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, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
6 Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
7 I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
8 Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
9 Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
10 If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage 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 As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.
Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
14 A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming 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 fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
16 Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!
Vae tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
17 But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right 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 Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
19 People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniae obediunt omnia.
20 Do not curse the king, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread the matter.
In cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas, et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti: quia et aves caeli portabunt vocem tuam, et qui habet pennas annunciabit sententiam.
