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 send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.
2 cor sapientis in dextera eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
A wise man’s heart [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 wisdom 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 yielding pacifieth 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, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
Folly is set in great dignity, 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 an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be 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 he 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
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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] mischievous madness.
14 stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because 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 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
Blessed [art] thou, O land, when thy king [is] the 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 slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but 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.
