Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Cor sapientis in dextera ejus, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool.
Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offences.
Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris, quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Vidi servos in equis, et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber.
9 Whoso removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
Qui transfert lapides affligetur in eis, et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not sharpen the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Verba oris sapientis gratia, et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum;
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
initium verborum ejus stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit; et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
15 The labour of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.
Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Væ tibi, terra, cujus rex puer est, et cujus principes mane comedunt.
17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Beata terra cujus rex nobilis est, et cujus principes vescuntur in tempore suo, ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
18 By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.
In risum faciunt panem et vinum ut epulentur viventes; et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
20 Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
In cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas, et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti: quia et aves cæli portabunt vocem tuam, et qui habet pennas annuntiabit sententiam.
