Qoelet 10

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Muscae morientes perdunt et corrumpunt oleum unguentarii. Gravior quam sapientia et gloria est parva stultitia.	1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!
2 Cor sapientis in dextera eius, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.	2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.
3 Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultosaestimat.	3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.
4 Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit contra te, locum tuum ne dimiseris,quia lenitas faciet cessare peccata maxima.	4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.
5 Est malum, quod vidi sub sole quasi errorem egredientem a facie principis:	5 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum.	6 a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.
7 Vidi servos inequis et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.	7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.
8 Qui fodit foveam,incidet in eam; et, qui dissipat murum, mordebit eum coluber.	8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 Qui excidit lapides, affligetur in eis; et, qui scindit ligna, periclitabitur ex eis.	9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.
10 Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et aciem eius non exacueris, labor multiplicabitur,sed lucrum industriae erit sapientia.	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 Si mordeat serpens incantatione neglecta, nihil lucri habet incantator.	11 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 Verba oris sapientis gratia, et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum.	12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.
13 Initium verborum eius stultitia, et novissimum oris illius insipientia mala.	13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;
14 Stultus verba multiplicat: “ Ignorat homo quid futurum sit; et, quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?”.	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 Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.	15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?
16 Vae tibi, terra, cuius rex puer est, et cuius principes mane comedunt.	16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!
17 Beata terra, cuius rex nobilis est, et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum et non ad luxuriam.	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 In pigris manibus humiliabitur contignatio, et in remissis perstillabit domus.	18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.
19 In risum faciunt epulas; vinum laetificat vitam, et pecunia praestat omnia.	19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.
20 In cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti, quia et aves caeli portabunt vocem tuam, et, qui habet pennas, annuntiabit sententiam.	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.