Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 10

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!	1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.	2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.	3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.	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 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:	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 fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.	6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.	7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.	8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.	9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10 If the iron becomes dull, though at first he made easy progress, he must increase his efforts; but the craftsman has the advantage of his skill.	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 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.	11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.	12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;	13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come 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 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?	15 The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine 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 are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth, and whose princes dine at the right time (for vigor and not in drinking bouts).	17 Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.	18 By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.	19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
20 Even in your thoughts do not make light of the king, nor in the privacy of your bedroom revile the rich. Because the birds of the air may carry your voice, a winged creature may tell what you say.	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.