The Latin Vulgate VUL
New Century Version NCV
1 muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
1
Dead flies can make even perfume stink. In the same way, a little foolishness can spoil wisdom.
2 cor sapientis in dextera eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
2
The heart of the wise leads to right, but the heart of a fool leads to wrong.
3 sed et in via stultus ambulans cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
3
Even in the way fools walk along the road, they show they are not wise; they show everyone how stupid they are.
4 si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te locum tuum ne dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet peccata maxima
4
Don't leave your job just because your boss is angry with you. Remaining calm solves great problems.
5 est malum quod vidi sub sole quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis
5
There is something else wrong that happens here on earth. It is the kind of mistake rulers make:
6 positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
6
Fools are given important positions while gifted people are given lower ones;
7 vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
7
I have seen servants ride horses while princes walk like servants on foot.
8 qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
8
Anyone who digs a pit might fall into it; anyone who knocks down a wall might be bitten by a snake;
9 qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
9
anyone who moves boulders might be hurt by them; and anyone who cuts logs might be harmed by them.
10 si retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur sapientia
10
A dull ax means harder work. Being wise will make it easier.
11 si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
11
If a snake bites the tamer before it is tamed, what good is the tamer?
12 verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
12
The words of the wise bring them praise, but the words of a fool will destroy them.
13 initium verborum eius stultitia et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
13
A fool begins by saying foolish things and ends by saying crazy and wicked things.
14 stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
14
A fool talks too much. No one knows the future, and no one can tell what will happen after death.
15 labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
15
Work wears fools out; they don't even know how to get home.
16 vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer et cuius principes mane comedunt
16
How terrible it is for a country whose king is a child and whose leaders eat all morning.
17 beata terra cuius rex nobilis est et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum et non ad luxuriam
17
How lucky a country is whose king comes from a good family, whose leaders eat only at mealtime and for strength, not to get drunk.
18 in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
18
If someone is lazy, the roof will begin to fall. If he doesn't fix it, the house will leak.
19 in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
19
A party makes you feel good, wine makes you feel happy, and money buys anything.
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
20
Don't make fun of the king, and don't make fun of rich people, even in your bedroom. A little bird might carry your words; a bird might fly and tell what you said.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.