Ecclésiaste 10

JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Une mouche morte gâte l'huile du parfumeur, un peu de sottise compte plus que sagesse etgloire.	1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 Le sage se dirige bien, l'insensé va de travers.	2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 Qu'il avance sur la route, celui qui est insensé, l'esprit lui manque, et tous disent: "C'est uninsensé!"	3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 Si l'humeur de celui qui commande se monte contre toi, ne quitte pas ta place, car le calmeévite de grands péchés.	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.
5 Il y a un mal que je vois sous le soleil, c'est comme une méprise de la part du souverain:	5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 la folie placée au plus haut et des riches qui restent dans l'abaissement.	6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 Je vois des esclaves aller à cheval et des princes à pied comme des esclaves.	7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 Qui creuse une fosse tombe dedans, qui sape un mur, un serpent le mord;	8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 qui extrait des pierres se blesse avec, qui fend du bois prend un risque.	9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 Si le fer est émoussé et qu'on n'en aiguise pas la lame, il faut redoubler de forces; mais il y aprofit à faire aboutir la sagesse.	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.
11 Si, faute d'être charmé, le serpent mord, il n'y a pas de profit pour le charmeur.	11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 Les paroles du sage plaisent, les lèvres de l'insensé le perdront:	12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 le début de ses paroles est folie et la fin de son propos perfide sottise.	13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 Le fou multiplie les paroles, mais l'homme ne sait pas ce qui sera: ce qui arrivera après lui, quile lui annoncera?	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?
15 Le travail de l'insensé le fatigue, lui qui ne sait même pas aller à la ville.	15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Malheur à toi, pays dont le roi est un gamin, et dont les princes mangent dès le matin!	16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 Heureux le pays dont le roi est né noble, dont les princes mangent au temps voulu pourprendre des forces et non pour banqueter!	17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 Pour des mains paresseuses, la poutre cède, pour des mains négligentes, il pleut dans lamaison.	18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 Pour se divertir on fait un repas, le vin réjouit les vivants et l'argent a réponse à tout.	19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 Ne maudis pas le roi, fût-ce en pensée, ne maudis pas le riche, fût-ce dans ta chambre, car unoiseau du ciel emporterait le bruit, celui qui a des ailes redirait ta parole.	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.