Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down wisdom and honor.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 A wise man's mind is at his right hand; but a fool's mind is at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yea, even when the fool walketh in the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 If the anger of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place! for gentleness pacifieth great offences.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun; an error which proceedeth from a ruler.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a low place.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on foot.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 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.
If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 If a serpent bite before he is charmed, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool are his destruction.
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, 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 mischievous madness.
14 A fool also multiplieth words, though no man knoweth what shall be; and who can tell him what shall be after him?
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 The labor of the foolish man wearieth him, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes feast in the morning!
Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Happy thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness of the hands the house leaketh.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answereth all things.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
20 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.
Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech.
