Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one 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.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
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 fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy 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.
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
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, 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.
