ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΗΣ - Qoelet - Ecclesiastes 10

LXX	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 μυιαι θανατουσαι σαπριουσιν σκευασιαν ελαιου ηδυσματος τιμιον ολιγον σοφιας υπερ δοξαν αφροσυνης μεγαλης	1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!
2 καρδια σοφου εις δεξιον αυτου και καρδια αφρονος εις αριστερον αυτου	2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.
3 και γε εν οδω οταν αφρων πορευηται καρδια αυτου υστερησει και α λογιειται παντα αφροσυνη εστιν	3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.
4 εαν πνευμα του εξουσιαζοντος αναβη επι σε τοπον σου μη αφης οτι ιαμα καταπαυσει αμαρτιας μεγαλας	4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.
5 εστιν πονηρια ην ειδον υπο τον ηλιον ως ακουσιον ο εξηλθεν απο προσωπου του εξουσιαζοντος	5 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
6 εδοθη ο αφρων εν υψεσι μεγαλοις και πλουσιοι εν ταπεινω καθησονται	6 a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.
7 ειδον δουλους εφ' ιππους και αρχοντας πορευομενους ως δουλους επι της γης	7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.
8 ο ορυσσων βοθρον εν αυτω εμπεσειται και καθαιρουντα φραγμον δηξεται αυτον οφις	8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 εξαιρων λιθους διαπονηθησεται εν αυτοις σχιζων ξυλα κινδυνευσει εν αυτοις	9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.
10 εαν εκπεση το σιδηριον και αυτος προσωπον εταραξεν και δυναμεις δυναμωσει και περισσεια του ανδρειου σοφια	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.
11 εαν δακη ο οφις εν ου ψιθυρισμω και ουκ εστιν περισσεια τω επαδοντι	11 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 λογοι στοματος σοφου χαρις και χειλη αφρονος καταποντιουσιν αυτον	12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.
13 αρχη λογων στοματος αυτου αφροσονη και εσχατη στοματος αυτου περιφερεια πονηρα	13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;
14 και ο αφρων πληθυνει λογους ουκ εγνω ο ανθρωπος τι το γενομενον και τι το εσομενον οπισω αυτου τις αναγγελει αυτω	14 yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him?
15 μοχθος των αφρονων κοπωσει αυτους ος ουκ εγνω του πορευθηναι εις πολιν	15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?
16 ουαι σοι πολις ης ο βασιλευς σου νεωτερος και οι αρχοντες σου εν πρωια εσθιουσιν	16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!
17 μακαρια συ γη ης ο βασιλευς σου υιος ελευθερων και οι αρχοντες σου προς καιρον φαγονται εν δυναμει και ουκ αισχυνθησονται	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).
18 εν οκνηριαις ταπεινωθησεται η δοκωσις και εν αργια χειρων σταξει η οικια	18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.
19 εις γελωτα ποιουσιν αρτον και οινος ευφραινει ζωντας και του αργυριου επακουσεται συν τα παντα	19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.
20 και γε εν συνειδησει σου βασιλεα μη καταραση και εν ταμιειοις κοιτωνων σου μη καταραση πλουσιον οτι πετεινον του ουρανου αποισει συν την φωνην και ο εχων τας πτερυγας απαγγελει λογον	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.