Ecclesiastes 10
World English BibleTranslation
World English Bible
Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), second edition
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
1ΜΥΙΑΙ θανατοῦσαι σαπριοῦσι σκευασίαν ἐλαίου ἡδύσματος· τίμιον ὀλίγον σοφίας ὑπὲρ δόξαν ἀφροσύνης μεγάλην,
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
2καρδία σοφοῦ εἰς δεξιὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ καρδία ἄφρονος εἰς ἀριστερὸν αὐτοῦ·
3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
3καί γε ἐν ὁδῷ ὅταν ἄφρων πορεύηται, καρδία αὐτοῦ ὑστερήσει, καὶ ἃ λογιεῖται πάντα ἀφροσύνη ἐστίν.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
4ἐὰν πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐξουσιάζοντος ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ σέ, τόπον σου μὴ ἀφῇς, ὅτι ἴαμα καταπαύσει ἁμαρτίας μεγάλας.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
5ἔστι πονηρία, ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὡς ἀκούσιον ὃ ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ προσώπου ἐξουσιάζοντος·
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
6ἐδόθη ὁ ἄφρων ἐν ὕψεσι μεγάλοις, καὶ πλούσιοι ἐν ταπεινῷ καθήσονται.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
7εἶδον δούλους ἐφ᾿ ἵππους καὶ ἄρχοντας πορευομένους ὡς δούλους ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
8ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται, καὶ καθαιροῦντα φραγμόν, δήξεται αὐτὸν ὄφις.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
9ἐξαίρων λίθους διαπονηθήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς, σχίζων ξύλα κινδυνεύσει ἐν αὐτοῖς.
10If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
10ἐὰν ἐκπέσῃ τὸ σιδήριον, καὶ αὐτὸς πρόσωπον ἐτάραξε, καὶ δυνάμεις δυναμώσει, καὶ περισσεία τοῦ ἀνδρείου σοφία.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
11ἐὰν δάκῃ ὄφις ἐν οὐ ψιθυρισμῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περισσεία τῷ ἐπᾳ£δοντι.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
12λόγοι στόματος σοφοῦ χάρις, καὶ χείλη ἄφρονος καταποντιοῦσιν αὐτόν·
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13ἀρχὴ λόγων στόματος αὐτοῦ ἀφροσύνη, καὶ ἐσχάτη στόματος αὐτοῦ περιφέρεια πονηρά,
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
14καὶ ὁ ἄφρων πληθύνει λόγους, οὐκ ἔγνω ἄνθρωπος τί τὸ γενόμενον, καὶ τί τὸ ἐσόμενον, ὅτι ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ, τίς ἀναγγελεῖ αὐτῷ;
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
15μόχθος τῶν ἀφρόνων κοπώσει αὐτούς, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς πόλιν.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
16οὐαί σοι, πόλις, ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου νεώτερος καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρωΐ ἐσθίουσι.
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!
17μακαρία σύ, γῆ, ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου υἱὸς ἐλευθέρων καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρὸς καιρὸν φάγονται ἐν δυνάμει καὶ οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσονται.
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
18ἐν ὀκνηρίαις ταπεινωθήσεται ἡ δόκωσις, καὶ ἐν ἀργίᾳ χειρῶν στάξει ἡ οἰκία.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
19εἰς γέλωτα ποιοῦσιν ἄρτον καὶ οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι ζῶντας, καὶ τοῦ ἀργυρίου ταπεινώσει ἐπακούσεται τὰ πάντα.
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.
20καί γε ἐν συνειδήσει σου βασιλέα μὴ καταράσῃ, καὶ ἐν ταμιείοις κοιτώνων σου μὴ καταράσῃ πλούσιον· ὅτι πετεινὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀποίσει σὺν τὴν φωνήν σου, καὶ ὁ ἔχων τὰς πτέρυγας ἀπαγγελεῖ λόγον σου.
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