Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at 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 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
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 the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
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 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
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 the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
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 foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will 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 labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 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!
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 slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 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.
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.
