Ecclesiastes 10
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
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
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
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 you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offenses.
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, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves 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 axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
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 mischievous madness.
14 stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
The labor of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
16 vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer et cuius principes mane comedunt
Woe to you, O city, whose king is young, and your 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 are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
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
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
