Ecclesiastes

Chapter 10

New King James Version

1Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; [So does] a little folly to one respected for wisdom [and] honor. 2A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand, But a fool's heart at his left. 3Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone [that] he [is] a fool. 4If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler: 6Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. 7I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants. 8He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, [And] he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 10If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. 11A serpent may bite when [it is] not charmed; The babbler is no different. 12The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 13The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk [is] raving madness. 14A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him? 15The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city! 16Woe to you, O land, when your king [is] a child, And your princes feast in the morning! 17Blessed [are] you, O land, when your king [is] the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time -- For strength and not for drunkenness! 18Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. 20Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

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