Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
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.
18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
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.
