Ecclesiastes 10–12

10As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly^y outweighs wisdom and honor.

²The heart of the wise inclines to the right,

but the heart of the fool to the left.

³Even as fools walk along the road,

they lack sense

and show everyone^z how stupid they are.

⁴If a ruler’s anger rises against you,

do not leave your post;^a

calmness can lay great offenses to rest.^b

⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

⁶Fools are put in many high positions,^c

while the rich occupy the low ones.

⁷I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.^d

⁸Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;^e

whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.^f

⁹Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;

whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.^g

¹⁰If the ax is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed,

but skill will bring success.

¹¹If a snake bites before it is charmed,

the charmer receives no fee.^h

¹²Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,ⁱ

but fools are consumed by their own lips.^j

¹³At the beginning their words are folly;

at the end they are wicked madness—

¹⁴and fools multiply words.^k

No one knows what is coming—

who can tell someone else what will happen after them?^l

¹⁵The toil of fools wearies them;

they do not know the way to town.

¹⁶Woe to the land whose king was a servant^am

and whose princes feast in the morning.

¹⁷Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth

and whose princes eat at a proper time—

for strength and not for drunkenness.ⁿ

¹⁸Through laziness, the rafters sag;

because of idle hands, the house leaks.^o

¹⁹A feast is made for laughter,

wine^p makes life merry,

and money is the answer for everything.

²⁰Do not revile the king^q even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird in the sky may carry your words,

and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Invest in Many Ventures

11Ship^r your grain across the sea;

after many days you may receive a return.^s

²Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;

you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

³If clouds are full of water,

they pour rain on the earth.

Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,

in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

⁴Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

⁵As you do not know the path of the wind,^t

or how the body is formed^a in a mother’s womb,^u

so you cannot understand the work of God,

the Maker of all things.

⁶Sow your seed in the morning,

and at evening let your hands not be idle,^v

for you do not know which will succeed,

whether this or that,

or whether both will do equally well.

Remember Your Creator While Young

⁷Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.^w

⁸However many years anyone may live,

let them enjoy them all.

But let them remember^x the days of darkness,

for there will be many.

Everything to come is meaningless.

⁹You who are young, be happy while you are young,

and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart

and whatever your eyes see,

but know that for all these things

God will bring you into judgment.^y

¹⁰So then, banish anxiety^z from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigor are meaningless.^a

12Remember^b your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble^c come

and the years approach when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them”—

²before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

³when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim;

⁴when the doors to the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint;^d

⁵when people are afraid of heights

and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags itself along

and desire no longer is stirred.

Then people go to their eternal home^e

and mourners^f go about the streets.

⁶Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,

and the golden bowl is broken;

before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

and the wheel broken at the well,

⁷and the dust returns^g to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God^h who gave it.ⁱ

⁸“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.^aj

“Everything is meaningless!^k”

The Conclusion of the Matter

⁹Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.^{l 10}The Teacher^m searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.ⁿ

¹¹The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails^o—given by one shepherd.^{b 12}Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.^p

¹³Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God^q and keep his commandments,^r

for this is the duty of all mankind.^s

¹⁴For God will bring every deed into judgment,^t

including every hidden thing,^u

whether it is good or evil.