Ecclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies make a the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
 2  b A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
 3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he c says to everyone that he is a fool.
 4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, d do not leave your place,
e for calmness ▼
▼ Hebrew healing
 will lay great offenses to rest.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were g an error proceeding from the ruler: 6  h folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7  i I have seen slaves j on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

8  He who k digs a pit will fall into it,
and l a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
 9  m He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who n splits logs is endangered by them.
 10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed. ▼
▼ Or  wisdom is an advantage for success

 11 If the serpent bites before it is p charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
 12  The words of a wise man’s mouth q win him favor, ▼
▼ Or are gracious

but s the lips of a fool consume him.
 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
 14  t A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him u what will be after him?
 15 The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know v the way to the city.
 16  w Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
 17 Happy 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 x drunkenness!
 18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
 19 Bread is made for laughter,
and y wine gladdens life,
and z money answers everything.
 20 Even in your thoughts aa do not curse the king,
nor in your ab bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
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