Ecclesiastes 10
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
Dead flies cause the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honor.
2 cor sapientis in dextera eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his left.
3 sed et in via stultus ambulans cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
Yea also, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all 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 submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
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 the ruler:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
7 vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—
8 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will 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 man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.
11 si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue [in charming] no preference.—
12 verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
The words of a wise man's mouth [bring] grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.
13 initium verborum eius stultitia et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing madness.
14 stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
The fool also multiplieth words; [but] a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to be after him, who can tell him?
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
The toil of the foolish will weary 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 lowminded, and when 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 noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—
18 in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth 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
Even in thy thought thou must not curse a king; and in thy bed-chambers do not curse the rich; for a bird of the air can carry the sound, and that which hath wings can tell the word.
