Ecclesiastes - Chapter 10 | English Standard Version

  • 1. Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
  • 2. 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 says to everyone that he is a fool.
  • 4. If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
  • 5. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:
  • 6. folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
  • 7. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
  • 8. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
  • 9. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who 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.
  • 11. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
  • 12. The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but 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. A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
  • 15. The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
  • 16. 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 drunkenness!
  • 18. Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
  • 19. Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
  • 20. Even in your thought, 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.
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