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 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 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.

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

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

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, as an error which proceedeth 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 low place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.

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

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 the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

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 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 the foolish doeth wearie him: for he knoweth not to goe into the citie.

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 lande, when thy King is a childe, and thy princes eate in the morning.

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy 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.

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

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

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

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, 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.

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.