Ecclesiastes 10
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 cor sapientis in dextera eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 sed et in via stultus ambulans cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te locum tuum ne dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet peccata maxima
If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
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, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 si retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur sapientia
If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
11 si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 initium verborum eius stultitia et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer et cuius principes mane comedunt
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 beata terra cuius rex nobilis est et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum et non ad luxuriam
Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 in cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti quia avis caeli portabit vocem tuam et qui habet pinnas adnuntiabit sententiam
You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
