Ecclesiastes 10
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva 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 aestimat
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 dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet 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 quasi servos super terram
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 adfligetur 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 retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur 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 praecipitabunt 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 quod post futurum est quis illi 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 adfliget 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 vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer 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 risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient 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 avis caeli portabit vocem tuam et qui habet pinnas adnuntiabit 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.
