Ecclesiastes 10

¹Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour;

so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.

²A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,

but a fool’s heart at his left. ³Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. ⁴If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.

⁵There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler. ⁶Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. ⁸He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. ⁹Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it. ¹⁰If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue. ¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. ¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. ¹⁴A fool also multiplies words.

Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him? ¹⁵The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.

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

and your princes eat in the morning!

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

and your princes eat in due season,

for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸By slothfulness the roof sinks in;

and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

¹⁹A feast is made for laughter,

and wine makes the life glad;

and money is the answer for all things.

²⁰Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts;

and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom,

for a bird of the sky may carry your voice,

and that which has wings may tell the matter.