Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.
As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
3 And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool.
4 If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.
If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.
Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
9 He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
10 If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.
If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
11 If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.
As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.
14 The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?
A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
15 The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.
The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
16 Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.
Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!
17 Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.
But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.
People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
20 Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.
Do not curse the king, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread the matter.
