Ecclesiastes 10

¹Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench ; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor .

²A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right , but a fool’s heart to the left .

³Even when the fool walks on the road , he lacks sense , and he says to everyone that he is a fool .

⁴If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place , for calmness will lay great offenses to rest .

⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun , as it were an error proceeding from the ruler :

⁶folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.

⁷I have seen slaves on horses , and princes walking on the ground like slaves .

⁸He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall .

⁹He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

¹⁰If the iron is blunt , and one does not sharpen the edge , he must use more strength , but wisdom helps one to succeed .

¹¹If the serpent bites before it is charmed , there is no advantage to the charmer .

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor , but the lips of a fool consume him .

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness , and the end of his talk is evil madness .

¹⁴A fool multiplies words , though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?

¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city .

¹⁶Woe to you, O land , when your king is a child , and your princes feast in the morning !

¹⁷Happy are you, O land , when your king is the son of the nobility , and your princes feast at the proper time , for strength , and not for drunkenness !

¹⁸Through sloth the roof sinks in , and through indolence the house leaks .

¹⁹Bread is made for laughter , and wine gladdens life , and money answers everything .

²⁰Even in your thoughts , do not curse the king , nor in your bedroom curse the rich , for a bird of the air will carry your voice , or some winged creature tell the matter .