Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva 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 eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
3 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
sed et in via stultus ambulans cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te locum tuum ne dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet peccata maxima
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of 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 a low place.
positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
10 If the ax is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
si retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur sapientia
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
initium verborum eius stultitia et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man does not know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he does not know how to go to the city.
labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer et cuius principes mane comedunt
17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
beata terra cuius rex nobilis est et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum et non ad luxuriam
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
20 Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
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
