Ecclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth an offensive odor: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honor.

2 The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.

A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart [is] at his left.

3 And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.

Also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool.

4 If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.

If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:

There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:

6 The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.

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

7 I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

8 He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9 He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.

Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it.

10 If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.

If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.

11 If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12 The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.

The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13 The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.

The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.

14 The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?

A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

15 The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.

The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16 Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.

Blessed [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 When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.

By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19 A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].

20 Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.