Ecclesiastes 10
Clementine Vulgate, 1598Translation
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
World English Bible
1[Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2Cor sapientis in dextera ejus, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to 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 spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5[Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7Vidi servos in equis, et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Qui transfert lapides affligetur in eis, et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
10If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12Verba oris sapientis gratia, et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum;
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13initium verborum ejus stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit; et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.]
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16[Væ tibi, terra, cujus rex puer est, et cujus principes mane comedunt.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17Beata terra cujus rex nobilis est, et cujus principes vescuntur in tempore suo, ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19In risum faciunt panem et vinum ut epulentur viventes; et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
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.]
20Don’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.
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