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 the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honor.
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 fool is 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, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all 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 submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
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 the ruler:
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon 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 will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be 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 man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue [in charming] no preference.—
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 [bring] grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy 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 last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing madness.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
The fool also multiplieth words; [but] a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to 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 toil of the foolish will weary every one of them, because 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 lowminded, and when thy princes eat 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 noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth 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.
Even in thy thought thou must not curse a king; and in thy bed-chambers do not curse the rich; for a bird of the air can carry the sound, and that which hath wings can tell the word.
