Ecclesiastes 10

The Burden of Folly

¹Dead 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 ^b 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. ^c

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

for calmness puts great offenses to rest. ^e

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, ^f

but the rich remain in lowly positions.

⁷I have seen slaves on horses, ^g

but princes walking on the ground like slaves. ^h

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

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

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, ^k

then there is no advantage for the charmer. ^l

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

but the lips of a fool consume him. ⁿ

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? ^o

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 youth ^p

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. ^q

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, ^r

and money ^s is the answer for everything. ^t

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

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

for a bird of the sky may carry the message,

and a winged creature may report the matter.