1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him , and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. 10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 ¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 ¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 ¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things .
20 ¶ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti
pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
2 cor sapientis in dextera eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
3 sed et in via stultus ambulans
cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
4 si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te
locum tuum ne dimiseris
quia curatio cessare faciet peccata maxima
5 est malum quod vidi sub sole
quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
7 vidi servos in equis
et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
8 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam
et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis
et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
10 si retunsum fuerit ferrum
et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit
multo labore exacuatur
et post industriam sequitur sapientia
11 si mordeat serpens in silentio
nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
12 verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
13 initium verborum eius stultitia
et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
14 stultus verba multiplicat
ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit
et quod post futurum est quis illi
poterit indicare
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
16 vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer
et cuius principes mane comedunt
17 beata terra cuius rex nobilis est
et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo
ad reficiendum et non ad luxuriam
18 in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio
et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit
domus
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum
ut epulentur viventes
et pecuniae oboedient omnia
20 in cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas
et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti
quia avis caeli portabit
vocem tuam
et qui habet pinnas adnuntiabit sententiam