Ecclesiastes 10

Chapter 10

¹Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off an evil odor;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

²A wise man’s heart inclines him toward the right,

but a fool’s heart toward the left.

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

and he says to every one that he is a fool.

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

for deference will make amends for great offenses.

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

⁸He who digs a pit will fall into it;

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

⁹He who quarries stones is hurt by them;

and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

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

he must put forth more strength;

but wisdom helps one to succeed.

¹¹If the serpent bites before it is charmed,

there is no advantage in a charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,

but the lips of a fool consume him.

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

and the end of his talk is wicked madness.

¹⁴A fool multiplies words,

though no man knows what is to be,

and who can tell him what will be after him?

¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him,

so that he does not know the way to the city.

¹⁶Woe 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 free men,

and your princes feast at the proper time,

for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸Through sloth the roof sinks in,

and through indolence the house leaks.

¹⁹Bread is made for laughter,

and wine gladdens life,

and money answers everything.

²⁰Even in your thought, do not curse the king,

nor in your bedchamber curse the rich;

for a bird of the air will carry your voice,

or some winged creature tell the matter.