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 make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down 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 mind is at his right hand; but a fool's mind is 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.
Yea, even when the fool walketh in the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one 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 anger of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place! for gentleness pacifieth great offences.
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; an error which proceedeth from a ruler.
6 Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on foot.
8 He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall 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 iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put forth more strength; but an advantage for giving success hath wisdom.
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 a serpent bite before he is charmed, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
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 the lips of a fool are his destruction.
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 folly, 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 multiplieth words, though no man knoweth what shall be; and who can tell him what shall be after 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 the foolish man wearieth him, because he knoweth not 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 thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes feast 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!—
Happy thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy 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 much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness of the hands the house leaketh.
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 merry; but money answereth 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.
Curse not the king; no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber! for a bird of the air shall carry the voice; and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
