Ecclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.

Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

2 The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a foole is at his left hand.

A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.

3 And also when the foole goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he telleth vnto all that he is a foole.

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 spirite of him that ruleth, rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place: for gentlenes pacifieth great sinnes.

If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

5 There is an euil that I haue seene vnder the sunne, as an errour that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

6 Follie is set in great excellencie, and the riche set in the lowe place.

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

7 I haue seene seruants on horses, and princes walking as seruants on the ground.

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

8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

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

9 He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.

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

10 If the yron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more strength: but the excellencie to direct a thing is wisedome.

If the ax is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

11 If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.

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

12 The words of ye mouth of a wise man haue grace: but the lippes of a foole deuoure himselfe.

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

13 The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 For the foole multiplieth woordes, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?

A fool also multiplies words. Man does not know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

15 The labour of the foolish doeth wearie him: for he knoweth not to goe into the citie.

The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he does not know how to go to the city.

16 Woe to thee, O lande, when thy King is a childe, and thy princes eate in the morning.

Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy King is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in time, for strength and not for drunkennesse.

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 slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through.

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

19 They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the liuing, but siluer answereth to all.

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, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the foule of the heauen shall carie the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.

Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not 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.