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.
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.
2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.
3 Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.
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 wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.
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 which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:
6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.
7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.
8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.
9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.
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 iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.
11 If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
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 sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.
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?
The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?
15 The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.
16 Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting 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.
Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.
18 By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.
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.
Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.
