Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
