Ecclesiastes 10
1 Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
2 Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool.
4 Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris: quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.
5 Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit multo labore, exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 Verba oris sapientis gratia: et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum:
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit: et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.
16 Væ tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Beata terra, cuius rex nobilis est, et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
19 In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.
20 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.
Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
