Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 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.
You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
