Ecclesiastes 10
1 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.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 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.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be endangered thereby.
Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 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.
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
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 swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
15 The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.
The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 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!
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
20 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.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
