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 oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh 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.

Yes 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 rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.

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

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, the sort of error which proceeds 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 a low place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

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 multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will 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 fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know 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 you, land, when your king is a child, and your 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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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.