Ecclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour: [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.

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 A wise man’s heart 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 the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.

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

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

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:

6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

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

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

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

8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, 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 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

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

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 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 before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

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

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

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 words of his mouth is foolishness: 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 A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell 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 fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.

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 land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Happy 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!

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 slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

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

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life: and money answereth all things.

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; 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.

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.