Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down wisdom and honor.
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 mind is at his right hand; but a fool's mind is at his left.
3 When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool.
Yea, even when the fool walketh in the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
If the anger of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place! for gentleness pacifieth 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; an error which proceedeth from a ruler.
6 Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a low place.
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 foot.
8 Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth 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 iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put forth more strength; but an advantage for giving success hath wisdom.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
If a serpent bite before he is charmed, 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 man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool are his destruction.
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 is mischievous madness.
14 A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
A fool also multiplieth words, though no man knoweth what shall be; and who can tell him what shall be after him?
15 The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
The labor of the foolish man wearieth him, because he knoweth not how 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 thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes feast 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!
Happy thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answereth all things.
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.
Curse not the king; no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber! for a bird of the air shall carry the voice; and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
