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.

1Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.

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 in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.

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

3Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas he himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.

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 him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.

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 it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:

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

6A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.

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

7I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.

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 he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

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

9He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.

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 be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.

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 a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.

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 the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.

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

13The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.

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 multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can 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 shall afflict them that 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 when the 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.

17Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.

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

18By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.

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

19For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.

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.

20Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.