Ecclesiastes 10
1 Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
2 Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
3 Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
4 Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris: quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
5 Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
7 Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
8 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
9 Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may 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, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
11 Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
12 Verba oris sapientis gratia: et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum:
The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
13 Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
14 Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit: et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
16 Væ tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
17 Beata terra, cuius rex nobilis est, et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
18 In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
19 In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth 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.
Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
