Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 10

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	VULGATA
1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!	1 Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.
2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.	2 Cor sapientis in dextera ejus, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.
3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.	3 Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.
4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.	4 Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris, quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.
5 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:	5 Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis :
6 a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.	6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.	7 Vidi servos in equis, et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.	8 Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber.
9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.	9 Qui transfert lapides affligetur in eis, et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis.
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 Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.
11 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.	11 Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.
12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.	12 Verba oris sapientis gratia, et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum ;
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;	13 initium verborum ejus stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.
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 Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit ; et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare ?
15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?	15 Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.
16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!	16 Væ tibi, terra, cujus rex puer est, et cujus principes mane comedunt.
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 Beata terra cujus rex nobilis est, et cujus principes vescuntur in tempore suo, ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.
18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.	18 In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.
19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.	19 In risum faciunt panem et vinum ut epulentur viventes ; et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.
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 In 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.