Ecclesiastes 10
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva 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 dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet 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 quasi servos super terram
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 adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 si retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur 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 quod post futurum est quis illi 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 adfliget 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 est puer 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 risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient 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 avis caeli portabit vocem tuam et qui habet pinnas adnuntiabit 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.
