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.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
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.
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offenses.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
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 axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
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 moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
The labor of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not 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 you, O city, whose king is young, and your 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 are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
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.
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
