Ecclesiastes 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.
