Ecclesiastes 10:8-20

English Standard Version

⁸ He who ^(A)digs a pit will fall into it,
    and ^(B)a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
^9 (C)He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
    and he who ^(D)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.^[a]
11 If the serpent bites before it is ^(E)charmed,
    there is no advantage to the charmer.

¹² The words of a wise man's mouth ^(F)win him favor,^[b]
    but ^(G)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 (H)A fool multiplies words,
    though no man knows what is to be,
    and who can tell him ^(I)what will be after him?
¹⁵ The toil of a fool wearies him,
    for he does not know ^(J)the way to the city.

^16 (K)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 ^(L)drunkenness!
¹⁸ Through sloth the roof sinks in,
    and through indolence the house leaks.
¹⁹ Bread is made for laughter,
    and ^(M)wine gladdens life,
    and ^(N)money answers everything.
²⁰ Even in your thoughts, ^(O)do not curse the king,
    nor in your ^(P)bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
    or some winged creature tell the matter.