Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 10

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.	1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.	2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.	3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.
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.	4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:	5 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.	6 a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.	7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.	8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.	9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.
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.	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 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.	11 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.	12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.	13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;
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?	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 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.	15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.	16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.	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 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.	18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.	19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.
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.	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.