Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
2 The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
