Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.
As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a foole is at his left hand.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
3 And also when the foole goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he telleth vnto all that he is a foole.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool.
4 If the spirite of him that ruleth, rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place: for gentlenes pacifieth great sinnes.
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 euil that I haue seene vnder the sunne, as an errour that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 Follie is set in great excellencie, and the riche set in the lowe place.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 I haue seene seruants on horses, and princes walking as seruants on the ground.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
9 He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
10 If the yron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more strength: but the excellencie to direct a thing is wisedome.
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 If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 The words of ye mouth of a wise man haue grace: but the lippes of a foole deuoure himselfe.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse.
As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.
14 For the foole multiplieth woordes, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?
A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
15 The labour of the foolish doeth wearie him: for he knoweth not to goe into the citie.
The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
16 Woe to thee, O lande, when thy King is a childe, and thy princes eate 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 art thou, O land, when thy King is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in time, for strength and not for drunkennesse.
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 slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the liuing, but siluer answereth to all.
People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
20 Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the foule of the heauen shall carie the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.
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.
