Ecclesiastes 10

World English Bible

¹Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does 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.

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 offenses 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 thereby.

¹⁰If the ax 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 labor 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.

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