Eclesiastés 10
Brenton's English Septuagint
1Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: and a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he Gr. will think of thinks of is folly.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man. Alex. for tw andri ou reads tou andreiou; Wisdom is the advantage of an energetic man
11If a serpent bite when there is no charmer’s Or, whistle whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
14A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15The labour of fools will afflict them, as that of one who knows not to go to the city.
16Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but Heb. doubly translated to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
20Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech.
Reina-Valera 1909
1LAS moscas muertas hacen heder y dar mal olor el perfume del perfumista: así una pequeña locura, al estimado por sabiduría y honra.
2El corazón del sabio está á su mano derecha; mas el corazón del necio á su mano izquierda.
3Y aun mientras va el necio por el camino, fáltale su cordura, y dice á todos, que es necio.
4Si el espíritu del príncipe se exaltare contra ti, no dejes tu lugar; porque la lenidad hará cesar grandes ofensas.
5Hay un mal que debajo del sol he visto, á manera de error emanado del príncipe:
6La necedad está colocada en grandes alturas, y los ricos están sentados en lugar bajo.
7Vi siervos en caballos, y príncipes que andaban como siervos sobre la tierra.
8El que hiciere el hoyo caerá en él; y el que aportillare el vallado, morderále la serpiente.
9El que mudare las piedras, trabajo tendrá en ellas: el que cortare la leña, en ella peligrará.
10Si se embotare el hierro, y su filo no fuere amolado, hay que añadir entonces más fuerza: empero excede la bondad de la sabiduría.
11Muerde la serpiente cuando no está encantada, y el lenguaraz no es mejor.
12Las palabras de la boca del sabio son gracia; mas los labios del necio causan su propia ruina.
13El principio de las palabras de su boca es necedad; y el fin de su charla nocivo desvarío.
14El necio multiplica palabras: no sabe hombre lo que ha de ser; ¿y quién le hará saber lo que después de él será?
15El trabajo de los necios los fatiga; porque no saben por dónde ir á la ciudad.
16¡Ay de ti, tierra, cuando tu rey es muchacho, y tus príncipes comen de mañana!
17¡Bienaventurada, tú, tierra, cuando tu rey es hijo de nobles, y tus príncipes comen á su hora, por refección, y no por el beber!
18Por la pereza se cae la techumbre, y por flojedad de manos se llueve la casa.
19Por el placer se hace el convite, y el vino alegra los vivos: y el dinero responde á todo.
20Ni aun en tu pensamiento digas mal del rey, ni en los secretos de tu cámara digas mal del rico; porque las aves del cielo llevarán la voz, y las que tienen alas harán saber la palabra.
King James Version
1Dead 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.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Yea 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.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17Blessed 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!
18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20Curse 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.
World English Bible
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.