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.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his 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.
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
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 which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and rulers walking like servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 He who hews out stones shall be hurt therewith, and he who splits wood is endangered thereby.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
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-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.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to 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 mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous 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?
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall 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 labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go 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 city, whose king is young, and your princes eat 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 shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes glad the life, and money answers all things.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
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.
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
