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.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:

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

3 Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!

Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool.

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 the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.

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, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:

6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:

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

7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.

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

8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.

He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.

Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be endangered thereby.

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 be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

11 If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.

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

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:

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 folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.

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

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?

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 toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.

The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to 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, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat 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 are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.

By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.

19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.

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.

Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.