Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
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 is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one 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 spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offences.
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 which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
Whoso removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
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 iron be blunt, and he do not sharpen the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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 will swallow up himself.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous 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?
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
The labour of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go 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, when your king is a child, and your princes eat 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, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, 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.
By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.
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.
Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
