Ecclesiastes 10
A Little Foolishness
1 Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.2 A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.4 If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler-6 folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.10 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.11 If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;13 the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?15 The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-for strength and not for drunkenness.18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.19 Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.20 Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.
Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.3 Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.9 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.14 A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?15 The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!17 Happy 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!18 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.