Ecclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.

2 The heart of a wise [man] 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 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.

Yea 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 spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

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

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

6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

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

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

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

8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

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

9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

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

11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

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

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

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 folly; 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 And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell 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 labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because 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!

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 a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

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 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

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

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.

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

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

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