Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
A wise man's mind is at his right hand; but a fool's mind is at his left.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
Yea, even when the fool walketh in the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
If the anger of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place! for gentleness pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun; an error which proceedeth from a ruler.
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
Folly is set in many high stations, and the noble sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on foot.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put forth more strength; but an advantage for giving success hath wisdom.
11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
If a serpent bite before he is charmed, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool are his destruction.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
A fool also multiplieth words, though no man knoweth what shall be; and who can tell him what shall be after him?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
The labor of the foolish man wearieth him, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes feast in the morning!
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
Happy thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and by the slackness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answereth all things.
20 You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
Curse not the king; no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber! for a bird of the air shall carry the voice; and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
