Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
14 A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
Woe to you, O city, whose king is young, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
Blessed are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
20 Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
