Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 10

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.	1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.	2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.	3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.	4 If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:	5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.	6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.	7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.	8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.	9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10 If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.	10 If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.	11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.	12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.	13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?	14 A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.	15 The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.	16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.	17 Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.	18 By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.	19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
20 You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.	20 Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.