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 can make perfumed oil smell bad. Likewise a little foolishness outweighs great wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.

The mind of the wise person chooses the right side, but the mind of the fool goes 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.

Just the way that fools walk down the road shows they have no sense, making clear to everyone their stupidity.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

If your superior gets angry with you, don't give up and leave. If you stay calm even bad mistakes can be resolved.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

I also realized there's another evil here on earth: rulers make a big mistake

6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

when they put fools in high positions, while those who are richly qualified are put in low positions.

7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.

I've seen slaves riding on horseback, while princes walk on the ground like slaves.

8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

If you dig a pit, you could fall in. If you knock down a wall, you could be bitten by a snake.

9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

If you quarry stone, you could be injured. If you split logs, you could be hurt.

10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

If your ax is blunt and you don't sharpen it, you have to use a lot more force. Conclusion: being wise brings good results.

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

If the snake bites the snake charmer before it's charmed, there's no benefit to the snake charmer!

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

Wise words are beneficial, but fools destroy themselves by what they say.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Fools begin by saying foolish things, and end up talking evil nonsense.

14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

Fools talk on and on, however no one knows what's going to happen, so who can say what the future holds?

15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.

Work makes fools so worn out they can't achieve anything.

16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

You're in trouble if the king of your country is young, and if your leaders are busy feasting from early 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!

You're fortunate if your king comes from a noble family, and your leaders feast at the proper time to give themselves energy, and not to get drunk.

18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

Lazy people let their roofs collapse; idle people don't repair their leaky houses.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

A good meal brings pleasure; wine makes life pleasant; money provides for all needs.

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.

Don't talk badly about the king, not even in your thoughts. Don't talk badly about leaders, even in the privacy of your bedroom. A bird may hear what you say and fly away to tell them.