Ecclesiastes 10
Clementine Vulgate, 1598Translation
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
Berean Standard Bible
1[Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2Cor sapientis in dextera ejus, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris, quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.]
4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5[Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
6Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7Vidi servos in equis, et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Qui transfert lapides affligetur in eis, et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis.
9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12Verba oris sapientis gratia, et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum;
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13initium verborum ejus stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit; et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.]
15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16[Væ tibi, terra, cujus rex puer est, et cujus principes mane comedunt.
16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Beata terra cujus rex nobilis est, et cujus principes vescuntur in tempore suo, ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19In risum faciunt panem et vinum ut epulentur viventes; et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20In 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.]
20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
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