Ecclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking odour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

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

The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

3 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.

Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.

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

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

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

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

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

folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a 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 whoever breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

9 Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cutteth wood shall be endangered by it.

Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

10 If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

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

If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

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 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 folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?

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

The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know 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 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!

Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

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

By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

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

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.

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 the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.