Ecclesiastes 10

1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

1Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.

1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

2The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.

2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

3And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.

3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.

4If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.

4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.

5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:

5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

6folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

6The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.

6folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

7I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.

7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.

8He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.

8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.

9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

9He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.

9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

10If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.

10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

11If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.

11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

12The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

13The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.

13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

14The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?

14A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.

15The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.

15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

16Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.

16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

17Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.

17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

18When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.

18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.

19A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.

19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.

20Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

20Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.

20Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.