Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on 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, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
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 a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
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 Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
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 a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
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 folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, 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 toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
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 two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, 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 Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might 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.
