Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
Dead flies cause the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his 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.
Yea also, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all 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 spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
9 Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.
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 iron be blunt, and man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue [in charming] no preference.—
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 [bring] grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing 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?
The fool also multiplieth words; [but] a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The toil of the foolish will weary every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.—
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is lowminded, and when thy princes eat 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!
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—
18 By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth all things.
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.
Even in thy thought thou must not curse a king; and in thy bed-chambers do not curse the rich; for a bird of the air can carry the sound, and that which hath wings can tell the word.
