Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
