Ecclesiastes 10

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 ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

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

2The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

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 he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.

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 quietness pacifieth great offences.

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 that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:

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

6folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

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

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

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 falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

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

9Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

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 apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

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 enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

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 swallow up himself.

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 folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

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?

14And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?

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

15The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.

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 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 a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

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

18By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

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 life merry; but money answereth everything.

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.

20Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.