Ecclesiastes 010

Revised Geneva Translation

10 Dead flies cause stink and putrefy the ointment of the apothecary. So does a little folly him who is esteemed for wisdom, and for glory.

² The heart of a wise man is at his right hand. But the heart of a fool is at his left hand.

³ And even when the fool walks along the way, his wisdom fails. And he tells everyone that he is a fool.

⁴ If the spirit of him who rules rises up against you, do not leave your place. For gentleness pacifies great sins.

⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the Sun, as an error that proceeds from the face of him who rules.

⁶ Folly is set in great excellency. And the rich sit in the low place.

⁷ I have seen servants on horses and princes walking as servants on the ground.

⁸ He who digs a pit shall fall into it. And he who breaks through a hedge will be bitten by a serpent.

⁹ He who removes stones shall hurt himself with them. He who cuts wood shall be in danger from it.

¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and one has not sharpened the edge, he must then put more strength to it. But wisdom is the excellence to direct a thing.

¹¹ The serpent bites when he is not charmed. A babbler is no better.

¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth have grace. But the lips of a fool devour him.

¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness. And the latter end of his mouth is wicked madness.

¹⁴ For the fool multiplies words. Man does not know what shall be. And who can tell him what shall be after him?

¹⁵ The labor of the foolish wearies him. For he does not know to go into the city.

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

¹⁷ Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in time, for strength and not for drunkenness.

¹⁸ By slothfulness, the roof of the house goes to decay. And by the idleness of the hands, the house drops through.

¹⁹ They prepare bread for laughter. And wine comforts the living. But silver answers all.

²⁰ Do not curse the king (even in your thought) or curse the rich (even in your bed chamber). For the bird of the heaven shall carry the voice. And that which has wings shall tell the matter.