Ecclesiastes 10:1–20

Dead flies make ^gthe perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

^2hA wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

³Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,

and he ⁱsays to everyone that he is a fool.

⁴If the anger of the ruler rises against you, ^jdo not leave your place,

^kfor calmness¹ will lay great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were ^lan error proceeding from the ruler: ^6mfolly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷ⁿI have seen slaves ^oon horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

⁸He who ^pdigs a pit will fall into it,

and ^qa serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.

^9rHe who quarries stones is hurt by them,

and he who ^ssplits logs is endangered by them.

¹⁰If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,

he must use more strength,

but wisdom helps one to succeed.²

¹¹If the serpent bites before it is ^tcharmed,

there is no advantage to the charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth ^uwin him favor,³

but ^vthe lips of a fool consume him.

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,

and the end of his talk is evil madness.

^14wA fool multiplies words,

though no man knows what is to be,

and who can tell him ^xwhat will be after him?

¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him,

for he does not know ^ythe way to the city.

^16zWoe to you, O land, when your king is a child,

and your princes feast in the morning!

¹⁷Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,

and your princes feast at the proper time,

for strength, and not for ^adrunkenness!

¹⁸Through sloth the roof sinks in,

and through indolence the house leaks.

¹⁹Bread is made for laughter,

and ^bwine gladdens life,

and ^cmoney answers everything.

²⁰Even in your thoughts, ^ddo not curse the king,

nor in your ^ebedroom curse the rich,

for a bird of the air will carry your voice,

or some winged creature tell the matter.