Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
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 is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.
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 which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and rulers walking like servants upon the earth.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 He who hews out stones shall be hurt therewith, and he who splits wood is endangered thereby.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must increase strength. But wisdom is advantageous to make right.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
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 will swallow himself up.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them, for he knows not how to go to the city.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy rulers feast in the morning!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Happy are thou, O land, when thy king is the son of noble men, and thy rulers feast in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
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 By slothfulness the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes glad the life, and money answers all things.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought, and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
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.
