Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh 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 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man's mind is at his right hand; but a fool's mind is at his left.
3 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that 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 spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
If the anger of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place! for gentleness pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun; an error which proceedeth from a ruler.
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on foot.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings 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 the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool are his destruction.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell 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 labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
The labor of the foolish man wearieth him, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes feast in the morning!
17 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!
Happy thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answereth all things.
20 Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t 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.
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.
