Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down wisdom and honor.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
2 A wise man's mind is at his right hand; but a fool's mind is at his left.
The heart of a wise [man] 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 also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
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 quietness pacifieth 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 that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a low place.
folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
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 upon 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 diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is 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 iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
11 If a serpent bite before he is charmed, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
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 man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
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 is 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?
And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
15 The labor of the foolish man wearieth him, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how 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 land, when thy king is a child, 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!
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness of the hands the house leaketh.
By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answereth all things.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
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.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
