Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
Yes 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 him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 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.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell 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 labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat 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 in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
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 slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.
20 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.
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.
