Ecclesiastes 10
1 Muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos aestimat.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone 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 ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Verba oris sapientis gratia: et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum:
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit: et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Vae tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast 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 whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniae obediunt omnia.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 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.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
