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 cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower 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.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends 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.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone 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 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, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
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 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 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage 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.
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 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 multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting 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.
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 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need 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, 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.
