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 cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

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

A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his 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.

Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

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

If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.

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 which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:

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

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

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

I have seen servants upon horses, and rulers walking like servants upon the earth.

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

He who digs a pit shall fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.

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

He who hews out stones shall be hurt therewith, and he who splits wood is endangered thereby.

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

If the iron be blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must increase strength. But wisdom is advantageous to make right.

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

If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in 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 will swallow himself up.

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

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

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

A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he does not know how to go to the city.

The labor of fools wearies every one of them, for he knows not how to go to the city.

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

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy rulers feast 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!

Happy are thou, O land, when thy king is the son of noble men, and thy rulers feast in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

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

By slothfulness the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the 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.

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

20 Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not 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.

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 has wings shall tell the matter.