Ecclesiastes 10

Chapter 10

1 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink,
so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.2 A wise person chooses the right road;
a fool takes the wrong one.3 You can identify fools
just by the way they walk down the street!4 If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit!
A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.

The Ironies of Life

5 There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake6 when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth.

7 I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!
8 When you dig a well,
you might fall in.
When you demolish an old wall,
you could be bitten by a snake.9 When you work in a quarry,
stones might fall and crush you.
When you chop wood,
there is danger with each stroke of your ax.10 Using a dull ax requires great strength,
so sharpen the blade.
That’s the value of wisdom;
it helps you succeed.11 If a snake bites before you charm it,
what’s the use of being a snake charmer?12 Wise words bring approval,
but fools are destroyed by their own words.13 Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions,
so their conclusions will be wicked madness;14 they chatter on and on.
No one really knows what is going to happen;
no one can predict the future.15 Fools are so exhausted by a little work
that they can’t even find their way home.16 What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant,t
the land whose leaders feast in the morning.17 Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader
and whose leaders feast at the proper time
to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.18 Laziness leads to a sagging roof;
idleness leads to a leaky house.19 A party gives laughter,
wine gives happiness,
and money gives everything!20 Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts.
And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom.
For a little bird might deliver your message
and tell them what you said.

ECCLESIASTES 10

1 A few dead flies in perfume
make all of it stink,
and a little foolishness
outweighs a lot of wisdom.

2 Sensible thoughts lead you
to do right;
foolish thoughts lead you
to do wrong.

3 Fools show their stupidity
by the way they live;
it's easy to see
they have no sense.

4 Don't give up your job
when your boss gets angry.
If you stay calm,
you'll be forgiven.
5 Rulers do some things that are terribly unfair: 6 They honor fools, but dishonor the rich;

7 they let slaves ride on horses, but force slave owners to walk.

8  t If you dig a pit,
you might fall in;
if you break down a wall,
a snake might bite you.t

9 You could even get hurt
by chiseling a stone
or chopping a log.

10 If you don't sharpen your ax,
it will be harder to use;
if you are wise,
you'll know what to do.t

11 The power to charm a snake
does you no good
if it bites you anyway.

12 If you talk sensibly,
you will have friends;
if you talk foolishly,
you will destroy yourself.

13 Fools begin with nonsense,
and their stupid chatter
ends with disaster.

14 They never tire of talking,
but none of us really know
what the future will bring.

15 Fools wear themselves out—
they don't know enough
to find their way home.t

16 A country is in for trouble
when its ruler is childish,
and its leaders
party all day long.

17 But a nation will prosper
when its ruler is mature,
and its leaders
don't party too much.

18 Some people are too lazy
to fix a leaky roof—
then the house collapses.

19 Eating and drinking
make you feel happy,
and money can buy
everything you need.

20 Don't let yourself think about
cursing the king;
don't curse the rich,
not even in secret.
A little bird might hear
and tell everything.