Ecclesiastes 10

1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:

6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.

7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.

10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.

17 Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

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.

5 There is a calamity that I have seen under the sun, namely, foolishness, which is common among the mighty,

6 That a fool sitteth in great dignity, and the rich sit down here.

7 I saw servants on horses, and princes walking as servants.

8 But he that maketh a pit shall fall into three: and he that breaketh the fence shall be stung by a serpent.

9 He that rolleth away stones shall have trouble; and he that cleaveth wood shall be hurt thereby.

10 If an iron be blunt, and the edge remain unsharpened, it must be sharpened again with power: so also wisdom followeth diligence.

11 A launderer is nothing better than a serpent that stings unsworn.

12 The words of a wise man's mouth are pleasant: but the lips of a fool devour him.

13 The beginning of his words is foolishness, and the end is pernicious folly.

14 A fool speaketh much: for a man knoweth not what hath been; and who shall tell him what shall be after him?

15 the work of the fools becomes sour to them, because one does not know to go to the city.

16 Woe unto thee, O land, whose king is a child, and whose prince eateth early!

17 Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is noble, and whose prince eateth in due season, for strength, and not for pleasure.

18 (For by slothfulness the beams sink, and by negligent hands the house is dripping).

19 That maketh bread to make merry, and wine to make glad the living, and money to make all things work for them.

20 Curse not the king in thine heart, neither curse the rich man in thy bedchamber: for the fowls of the air carry the voice, and they that have wings repeat it.