Ecclesiastes Chapter 10    

 ¹ Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to give off a bad odor;

 so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

 

 ² A wise person’s heart inclines him toward his right hand,

 but a fool’s heart inclines towards his left.

 

 ³ And also, when the fool walks along the road, his understanding fails him

 and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

 

 ⁴ If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place,

 for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

 

 ⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the sun,

 the sort of error that proceeds from the one who has power.

 

 
⁶ Folly is set in many high positions,

 while the rich sit in a low place.

 

 ⁷ I have seen servants on horses

 while officials walk on the ground like servants.

 

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

 and a snake may bite the one who breaks through a wall.

 

 ⁹ Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them.

 Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

 

 ¹⁰ If the iron is dull and one does not sharpen the edge,

 then he must use more strength;

 but wisdom brings success.

 

 ¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed,

 then is there no advantage to having a charmer.

 

 ¹² The words of a wise person’s mouth are gracious,

 but the lips of a fool swallow him up.

 

 ¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness

 and the end of his mouth is hurtful madness,

 

 ¹⁴ yet the fool also multiplies words.

 A person does not know what will be;

 and what will be after him, who can tell him?

 

 ¹⁵ The labor of fools wearies them,

 for he does not know how to go to a city.

 

 ¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a youth

 and your officials feast in the morning!

 

 ¹⁷ Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles^a

 and your officials feast in due season,

 for strength and not for drunkenness!

 

 ¹⁸ By laziness the rafters sag,

 and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

 

 ¹⁹ People make food for laughter,

 and wine gladdens one’s life,

 and money answers everything.

 

 ²⁰ Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts,

 and do not curse the rich in your bedroom:

 for a bird of the air may carry your voice,

 and that which has wings may tell the matter.