Ecclesiastes Chapter 10
1 | Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. | 2 | A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. | 3 | Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. | 4 | If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. | 5 | There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: | 6 | Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. | 7 | I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. | 8 | He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. | 9 | Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. | 10 | If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. | 11 | Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. | 12 | The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. | 13 | The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. | 14 | A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? | 15 | The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. | 16 | Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! | 17 | Blessed 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! | 18 | By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. | 19 | A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. | 20 | Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. |