Ecclesiastes 10
1 Muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
2 Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
The heart of a wise [man] 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 aestimat.
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.
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 thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
5 Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
7 Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is 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 one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
11 Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
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 swallow up himself.
13 Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; 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?
And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
15 Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
16 Vae tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy 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.
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!
18 In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
19 In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniae obediunt omnia.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth 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.
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.
