उपदेशक ग्रन्थ 10

1Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.

2The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.

3Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.

4If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.

5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:

6A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.

7I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.

8He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.

10If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.

11If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.

12The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.

13The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.

14A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

15The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.

16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.

17Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.

18By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.

19For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.

20Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.

1[Muscæ morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti. Pretiosior est sapientia et gloria, parva et ad tempus stultitia.

2Cor sapientis in dextera ejus, et cor stulti in sinistra illius.

3Sed et in via stultus ambulans, cum ipse insipiens sit, omnes stultos æstimat.

4Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne demiseris, quia curatio faciet cessare peccata maxima.]

5[Est malum quod vidi sub sole, quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis:

6positum stultum in dignitate sublimi, et divites sedere deorsum.

7Vidi servos in equis, et principes ambulantes super terram quasi servos.

8Qui fodit foveam incidet in eam, et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber.

9Qui transfert lapides affligetur in eis, et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis.

10Si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, et post industriam sequetur sapientia.

11Si mordeat serpens in silentio, nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit.

12Verba oris sapientis gratia, et labia insipientis præcipitabunt eum;

13initium verborum ejus stultitia, et novissimum oris illius error pessimus.

14Stultus verba multiplicat. Ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit; et quid post se futurum sit, quis ei poterit indicare?

15Labor stultorum affliget eos, qui nesciunt in urbem pergere.]

16[Væ tibi, terra, cujus rex puer est, et cujus principes mane comedunt.

17Beata terra cujus rex nobilis est, et cujus principes vescuntur in tempore suo, ad reficiendum, et non ad luxuriam.

18In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.

19In risum faciunt panem et vinum ut epulentur viventes; et pecuniæ obediunt omnia.

20In cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas, et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti: quia et aves cæli portabunt vocem tuam, et qui habet pennas annuntiabit sententiam.]

1Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.

2The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.

3Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.

4If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.

5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:

6a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.

7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.

8Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.

9Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.

10If 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.

11Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.

12Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.

13At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.

14The 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?

15The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.

16Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.

17Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.

18By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.

19While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.

20You 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.