Liber Ecclesiastes, 10
1. Muscae morientes perdunt et corrumpunt oleum unguentarii. Gravior quam sapientia et gloria est parva stultitia.
1. Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2. Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
2. A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool's heart toward the left.
3. Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos aestimat.
3. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to every one that he is a fool.
4. Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit contra te, locum tuum ne dimiseris, quia lenitas faciet cessare peccata maxima.
4. If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for deference will make amends for great offenses.
5. Est malum, quod vidi sub sole quasi errorem egredientem a facie principis:
5. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:
6. positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum.
6. folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
7. Vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
7. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on foot like slaves.
8. Qui fodit foveam, incidet in eam; et, qui dissipat murum, mordebit eum coluber.
8. He who digs a pit will fall into it; and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9. Qui excidit lapides, affligetur in eis; et, qui scindit ligna, periclitabitur ex eis.
9. He who quarries stones is hurt by them; and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
10. Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et aciem eius non exacueris, labor multiplicabitur, sed lucrum industriae erit sapientia.
10. If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11. Si mordeat serpens incantatione neglecta, nihil lucri habet incantator.
11. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.
12. Verba oris sapientis gratia, et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum.
12. The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13. Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius insipientia mala.
13. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness.
14. Stultus verba multiplicat: “Ignorat homo quid futurum sit; et, quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?”.
14. A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
15. Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
15. The toil of a fool wearies him, so that he does not know the way to the city.
16. Vae tibi, terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.
16. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!
17. Beata terra, cuius rex nobilis est, et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum et non ad luxuriam.
17. Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of free men, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18. In pigris manibus humiliabitur contignatio, et in remissis perstillabit domus.
18. Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
19. In risum faciunt epulas; vinum laetificat vitam, et pecunia praestat omnia.
19. Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
20. In cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti, quia et aves caeli portabunt vocem tuam, et, qui habet pennas, annuntiabit sententiam.
20. Even in your thought, do not curse the king, nor in your bedchamber curse the rich; for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
