Ecclesiastes 10
1 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.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yea also, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all that he is a fool.
Yes 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 submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10 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.
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue [in charming] no preference.—
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth [bring] grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 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?
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 The toil of the foolish will weary 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 doesn't know how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is lowminded, and when thy princes eat in the morning!
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning.
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—
Blessed are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness.
18 Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth all things.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 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.
Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not curse the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
