Ecclesiastes 10
1 Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
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 æstimat.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris: quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.
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, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Vidi servos in equis: et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam: et qui dissipat sepem, mordebit eum coluber.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Qui transfert lapides, affligetur in eis: et qui scindit ligna, vulnerabitur ab eis.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit multo labore, exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 Verba oris sapientis gratia: et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum:
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit: et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Væ tibi terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, 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.
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!
18 In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 In risum faciunt panem, et vinum ut epulentur viventes: et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 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.
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t 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.
