Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking odour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart is at his left.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cutteth wood shall be endangered by it.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
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 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
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.
