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 cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower 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 person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends 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.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone 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 emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, 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 Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
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 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 before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage 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.
As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked 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?
A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming 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 fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting 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!
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 slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
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, 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, 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.
