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.

Ecclesiastes 10

1 One dead flyt makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench,t
so a little folly can outweights much wisdom.t

Wisdom Can Be Nullified By the Caprice of Rulers

2 A wise person’s good sense protects him,t
but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.t

3 Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense,t
and showst everyone what a fool he is.s

4 If the angert of the ruler flares upt against you, do not resignt from your position,t
for a calmt responset can undot great offenses.

5 I have seen anothert misfortunet on the earth:t
It is an error a ruler makes.t

6 Foolst are placed in many positions of authority,t
while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.

7 I have seen slavest on horseback
and princes walking on foott like slaves.

Wisdom is Needed to Avert Dangers in Everyday Life

8 One who digs a pit mayt fall into it,
and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.t

9 One who quarries stones may be injured by them;
one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 If an iron axheadt is blunt and a workmant does not sharpent its edge,t
he must exert a great deal of effort;t
so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

11 If the snake should bite before it is charmed,t
the snake charmert is in trouble.t

Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools

12 The words of a wise persont win himt favor,t
but the wordst of a fool are self-destructive.t

13 At the beginning his wordst are foolish
and at the ends his talkt is wicked madness,t

14 yet a fool keeps on babbling.t
No one knows what will happen;
who can tell him what will happen in the future?t

15 The toil of a stupid foolt wears him out,t
because he does not even know the way to the city.t

The Problem with Foolish Rulers

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish,t
and your princes feast in the morning!

17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility,t
and your princes feast at the proper timet – with self-control and not in drunkenness.t

18 Because of laziness the rooft caves in,
and because of idle handst the house leaks.

19 Feastst are madet for laughter,
and wine makes life merry,t
but money is the answert for everything.

20 Do not curse a king even in your thoughts,
and do not curse the richt while in your bedroom;t
for a birdt might report what you are thinking,t
or some winged creaturet might repeat yourt words.t