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 can make perfumed oil smell bad. Likewise a little foolishness outweighs great wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
The mind of the wise person chooses the right side, but the mind of the fool goes 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.
Just the way that fools walk down the road shows they have no sense, making clear to everyone their stupidity.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.
If your superior gets angry with you, don't give up and leave. If you stay calm even bad mistakes can be resolved.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
I also realized there's another evil here on earth: rulers make a big mistake
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
when they put fools in high positions, while those who are richly qualified are put in low positions.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
I've seen slaves riding on horseback, while princes walk on the ground like slaves.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
If you dig a pit, you could fall in. If you knock down a wall, you could be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be endangered thereby.
If you quarry stone, you could be injured. If you split logs, you could be hurt.
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 your ax is blunt and you don't sharpen it, you have to use a lot more force. Conclusion: being wise brings good results.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
If the snake bites the snake charmer before it's charmed, there's no benefit to the snake charmer!
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Wise words are beneficial, but fools destroy themselves by what they say.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Fools begin by saying foolish things, and end up talking evil nonsense.
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?
Fools talk on and on, however no one knows what's going to happen, so who can say what the future holds?
15 The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.
Work makes fools so worn out they can't achieve anything.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
You're in trouble if the king of your country is young, and if your leaders are busy feasting from early 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!
You're fortunate if your king comes from a noble family, and your leaders feast at the proper time to give themselves energy, and not to get drunk.
18 By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
Lazy people let their roofs collapse; idle people don't repair their leaky houses.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.
A good meal brings pleasure; wine makes life pleasant; money provides for all needs.
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.
Don't talk badly about the king, not even in your thoughts. Don't talk badly about leaders, even in the privacy of your bedroom. A bird may hear what you say and fly away to tell them.
