Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Dead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a foole is at his left hand.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
And also when the foole goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he telleth vnto all that he is a foole.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
If the spirite of him that ruleth, rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place: for gentlenes pacifieth great sinnes.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
There is an euil that I haue seene vnder the sunne, as an errour that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
Follie is set in great excellencie, and the riche set in the lowe place.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
I haue seene seruants on horses, and princes walking as seruants on the ground.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
If the yron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more strength: but the excellencie to direct a thing is wisedome.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
The words of ye mouth of a wise man haue grace: but the lippes of a foole deuoure himselfe.
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
For the foole multiplieth woordes, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
The labour of the foolish doeth wearie him: for he knoweth not to goe into the citie.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Woe to thee, O lande, when thy King is a childe, and thy princes eate 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.
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy King is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in time, for strength and not for drunkennesse.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
By slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the liuing, but siluer answereth to all.
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.
Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the foule of the heauen shall carie the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.
