Ecclesiastes 10
Thomson 1808
Brenton 1851
Greek · Brenton
1
ThomsonDEAD flies will spoil the best prepared perfumes: but the smallest portion of wisdom is of more value than the greatest glory of folly.
BrentonPestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: and a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
GreekΜυῖαι θανατοῦσαι σαπριοῦσι σκευασίαν ἐλαίου ἡδύσματος· τίμιον ὀλίγον σοφίας ὑπὲρ δόξαν ἀφροσύνης μεγάλην.
2
ThomsonThe heart of a wise man is on his right: but the heart of a fool is at his left.
BrentonA wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
GreekΚαρδία σοφοῦ εἰς δεξιὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ καρδία ἄφρονος εἰς ἀριστερὸν αὐτοῦ.
3
ThomsonIn every way at least when a fool is on his march his heart will fail him so that all which he shall devise is folly.
BrentonYea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
GreekΚαί γε ἐν ὁδῷ ὅταν ἄφρων πορεύηται, καρδία αὐτοῦ ὑστερήσει, καὶ ἃ λογιεῖται πάντα ἀφροσύνη ἐστίν.
4
ThomsonIf the spirit of a ruler rise up against thee, resign not thy place: for a reconciliation will mollify great offences.
BrentonIf the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
GreekἘὰν πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐξουσιάζοντος ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ σὲ, τόπον σου μὴ ἀφῇς, ὅτι ἴαμα καταπαύσει ἁμαρτίας μεγάλας.
5
ThomsonThere is an evil which I have seen under the sun as if something involuntary came forth from the presence of a person in authority.
BrentonThere is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
GreekἜστι πονηρία ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὡς ἀκούσιον ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ προσώπου ἐξουσιάζοντος.
6
ThomsonThe fool is set in high stations while the rich shall sit in a low place.
BrentonThe fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
GreekἘδόθη ὁ ἄφρων ἐν ὕψεσι μεγάλοις, καὶ πλούσιοι ἐν ταπεινῷ καθήσονται.
7
ThomsonI have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking like slaves on the ground.
BrentonI have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
GreekΕἶδον δούλους ἐφʼ ἵππους, καὶ ἄρχοντας πορευομένους ὡς δούλους ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
8
ThomsonHe who diggeth a pit may fall into it; and him, who is clearing away a hedge, a serpent may bite.
BrentonHe that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
GreekὉ ὀρύσσων βόθρον, εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται· καὶ καθαιροῦντα φραγμὸν, δήξεται αὐτὸν ὄφις,
9
ThomsonHe who raiseth stones high may be overpowered by them; and he who cleareth wood will thereby incur danger.
BrentonHe that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
GreekἘξαίρων λίθους, διαπονηθήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς· σχίζων ξύλα, κινδυνεύσει ἐν αὐτοῖς.
10
ThomsonIf the axe shall fall, or one blunteth its edge and redoubled force is to be applied; the advantage will be in favour of the man who hath skill.
BrentonIf 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.
GreekἘὰν ἐκπέσῃ τὸ σιδήριον, καὶ αὐτὸς πρόσωπον ἐτάραξε· καὶ δυνάμεις δυναμώσει, καὶ περίσσεια τῷ ἀνδρὶ οὐ σοφία.
11
ThomsonIf a serpent biteth at an interval of charming, there is then no advantage in him who charmeth.
BrentonIf a serpent bite when there is no charmer's whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
GreekἘὰν δάκῃ ὄφις ἐν οὐ ψιθυρισμῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περίσσεια τῷ ἐπᾴδοντι.
12
ThomsonThe words of a wise man’s mouth are a charm; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
BrentonThe words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
GreekΛόγοι στόματος σοφοῦ χάρις, καὶ χείλη ἄφρονος καταποντιοῦσιν αὐτόν.
13
ThomsonThe beginning of the words of his mouth is folly and the end of his talk is malicious madness.
BrentonThe beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
GreekἈρχὴ λόγων στόματος αὐτοῦ ἀφροσύνη, καὶ ἐσχάτη στόματος αὐτοῦ περιφέρεια πονηρὰ,
14
ThomsonThough the fool multiplieth words, a man doth not know what the matter is; and what that shall be which will follow who can tell him.
BrentonA fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
Greekκαὶ ὁ ἄφρων πληθύνει λόγους· οὐκ ἔγνω ἄνθρωπος τί τὸ γενόμενον, καὶ τί τὸ ἐσόμενον, ὅ, τι ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ τίς ἀναγγελεῖ αὐτῷ;
15
ThomsonThe labour of the foolish will tire them like that of one who knoweth not the way to a city.
BrentonThe labour of fools will afflict them, as that of one who knows not to go to the city.
GreekΜόχθος τῶν ἀφρόνων κακώσει αὐτοὺς, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς πόλιν.
16
ThomsonAlas for thee, O city, whose king is a novice and whose chiefs eat in the morning.
BrentonWoe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!
GreekΟὐαί σοι πόλις ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου νεώτερος, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρωῒ ἐσθίουσι.
17
ThomsonHappy thou, O land, whose king is a son of freemen and whose chiefs eat in due season for strength: and that they may not be put to shame.
BrentonBlessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
GreekΜακαρία σὺ γῆ, ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου υἱὸς ἐλευθέρων, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρὸς καιρὸν φάγονται ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσονται.
18
ThomsonBy slothfulness the roof will fall, and by idleness of hands a house will become leaky,
BrentonBy slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
GreekἘν ὀκνηρίαις ταπεινωθήσεται ἡ δόκωσις, καὶ ἐν ἀργίᾳ χειρῶν στάξει ἡ οἰκία.
19
Thomsonso as to excite a derision of them who are providing bread and wine and oil that they may be regaled while living. But to the subjection of money all things will be obedient.
BrentonMen prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
GreekΕἰς γέλωτα ποιοῦσιν ἄρτον, καὶ οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι ζῶντας, καὶ τοῦ ἀργυρίου ταπεινώσει ἐπακούσεται τὰ πάντα.
20
ThomsonTherefore curse not a king in thy mind, and in the inmost recesses of thy bed-chamber curse not a rich man: for a bird of the air will carry thy voice, and that which hath wings will tell thy saying.
BrentonEven 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.
GreekΚαί γε ἐν συνειδήσει σου βασιλέα μὴ καταράσῃ, καὶ ἐν ταμιείοις κοιτώνων σου μὴ καταράσῃ πλούσιον· ὅτι πετεινὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀποίσει τὴν φωνήν σου, καὶ ὁ ἔχων τὰς πτέρυγας ἀπαγγελεῖ λόγον σου.