Ecclesiastes 10

1 As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.

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 The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.

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

3 When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone 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 emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.

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

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:

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

6 Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.

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

7 I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.

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

8 Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9 Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.

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

10 If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.

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 snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for 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 consume him.

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

13 As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.

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

14 A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after 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 fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16 Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!

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

17 But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right time, 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 Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.

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

19 People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].

20 Do not curse the king, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread 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.