Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour: [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3 Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding allayeth great offences.
If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
11 If the serpent bite before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
14 A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow 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 when the princes eat in the morning.
17 Happy 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!
Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life: and money answereth all things.
For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
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.
Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
