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.
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart 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, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [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 yielding allayeth great offences.
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, as it were 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 dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on foot.
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 whoso breaketh down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is 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 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 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 bite before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
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 are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up 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 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: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall 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 labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for 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 a child, and 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 the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Happy thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life: and money answereth all things.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answereth all things.
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.
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.
