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.
As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the 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.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone 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 emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
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 that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
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.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for 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 consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked 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 multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting 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!
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!
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.
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.
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.
