Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool.
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, 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 consume him.
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
14 A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!
Woe to you, O city, whose king is young, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Blessed are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
20 Do not curse the king, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread the matter.
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
