Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool.
Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.
5 There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses, and rulers walking like servants upon the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
He who hews out stones shall be hurt therewith, and he who splits 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 he does not whet the edge, then he must increase strength. But wisdom is advantageous to make right.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in 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 will swallow himself up.
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 foolishness, 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?
A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The labor of fools wearies every one of them, for he knows not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy rulers feast in the morning!
17 Blessed [art] thou, O land, when thy king [is] the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Happy are thou, O land, when thy king is the son of noble men, and thy rulers feast in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes glad the life, and money answers 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.
Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought, and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
