Ecclesiastes 10

THE BURDEN OF FOLLY

10Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink;^a

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

²A wise person’s heart goes to the^C right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

³Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,

and he shows everyone he is a fool.^b

⁴If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your post,^c

for calmness puts great offenses to rest.^d

⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:

⁶The fool is appointed to great heights,^e

but the rich remain in lowly positions.

⁷I have seen slaves on horses,^f

but princes walking on the ground like slaves.^g

⁸The one who digs a pit may fall into it,^h

and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.ⁱ

⁹The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;

the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

¹⁰If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,

then one must exert more strength;

however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.

¹¹If the snake bites before it is charmed,^j

then there is no advantage for the charmer.^A

¹²The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious,^k

but the lips of a fool consume him.^l

¹³The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly,

but the end of his speaking is evil madness;

¹⁴yet the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what will happen,

and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?^m

¹⁵The struggles of fools weary them,

for they don’t know how to go to the city.

¹⁶Woe to you, land, when your king is a youthⁿ

and your princes feast in the morning.

¹⁷Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles

and your princes feast at the proper time—

for strength and not for drunkenness.^o

¹⁸Because of laziness the roof caves in,

and because of negligent hands the house leaks.

¹⁹A feast is prepared for laughter,

and wine makes life happy,^p

and money^B is the answer for everything.^q

²⁰Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,^r

and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom,^s

for a bird of the sky may carry the message,

and a winged creature may report the matter.