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.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs 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 inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the 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.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows 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 ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness 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 I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
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 slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
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 he who breaches 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.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
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 axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces 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, there is no profit for the charmer.
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 the lips of a fool consume him.
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 his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil 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.
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after 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 toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way 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, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast 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.
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 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].
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, 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 prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
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 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.
