Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
3 Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
4 If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris: quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
5 Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
10 If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit multo labore, exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
11 If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
Verba oris sapientis gratia: et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum:
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
14 Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which 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 toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
16 Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
Væ tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
17 How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
Beata terra, cuius rex nobilis est, et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
18 By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
20 Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might 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 annunciabit sententiam.
