Ecclesiastes 10
1 [A few] dead flies in [a bottle of] perfume cause [all] the perfume to stink. Similarly [SIM], a small amount of acting foolishly can have a greater effect than acting wisely.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 If people think sensibly, it will lead them to do what is right; if they think foolishly, it causes them to do what is wrong.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Even while foolish people walk along the road, they show that they do not have good sense; they show everyone that they are not wise.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 Do not quit working for a ruler when he is angry with you; if you remain calm, he will [probably] stop being angry.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is something [else] that I have seen here on this earth, something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong/inappropriate:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 They allow slaves [to ride] on horses [like rich people usually do], [but] they force officials to walk [like slaves usually do].
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 [It is possible that] those who dig pits will fall into one of those pits. [It is possible that] someone who tears down a wall will be bitten by a snake [that is in that wall].
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 If you work in a quarry, [it is possible that] a stone [will fall on you and] injure you. [It is possible that] men who split logs will be injured by one of those logs.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 If your axe is not sharp [DOU], you will need to work harder [to cut down a tree], but by being wise, you will succeed.
If the ax is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 Wise people say [MTY] what is sensible, and because of that, people honor them; but foolish people are destroyed by what they say [MTY].
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 When foolish people start to talk, they say things that are foolish, and they end by saying things that are both wicked and foolish.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 They talk (too much/without ceasing). None of us knows what will happen in the future, or what will happen after we die.
A fool also multiplies words. Man does not know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Foolish people become [so] exhausted by the work that they do that they are unable to find the road to their town/homes.
The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he does not know how to go to the city.
16 Terrible things will happen to the people of a nation whose ruler is a foolish young man, and whose [other] leaders continually eat, all day long, every day.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 [But] a nation will prosper if its ruler is from a (noble/well-educated) family, and if its [other] leaders feast [only] at the proper times, and [if they eat and drink only] to be strong, not to become drunk.
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Some men are very lazy [and do not repair the rafters], with the result that the rafters sag [and collapse]; and if they do not repair the roof, water will leak into the house [when it rains].
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Eating food and drinking wine causes us to laugh and be happy, [but] we are able to enjoy those things only if we have money [to buy them].
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 Do not even think about cursing the king, or cursing rich [people, even] when you are [alone] in your bedroom, because [it is possible that] a little bird will hear [what you are saying], [and] tell those people what you said [about them].
Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
