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 oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.

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 the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone 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 rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.

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, the sort of 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 a 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 like 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 who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

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

Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

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 axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

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

If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

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 multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will 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 labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know 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, 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.

Happy are you, 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 slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

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

A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for 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.

Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.