Ecclesiastes 10
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 cor sapientis in dextera eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
3 sed et in via stultus ambulans cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding 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 gentleness allayeth great offences.
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, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in 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 shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and 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 put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, 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 will swallow up himself.
13 initium verborum eius stultitia et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
14 stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth 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 boy, and thy 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
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
18 in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
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 a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
