Ecclesiastes 10
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
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 fool is in his left hand.
3 sed et in via stultus ambulans cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te locum tuum ne dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet peccata maxima
If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
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 it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall 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 be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
11 si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 initium verborum eius stultitia et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow 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 when the 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
Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey 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
Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
