Ecclesiastes

Chapter 10

1 Dead4194 flies2070 cause the ointment8081 of the apothecary7543 to send5042 forth a stinking887 smell:7381 so does a little4592 folly5531 him that is in reputation3368 for wisdom2451 and honor.3519

2 A wise2450 man's heart3820 is at his right3225 hand;3225 but a fool's3684 heart3820 at his left.8040

3 Yes1571 also,1571 when he that is a fool5530 walks1980 by the way,1870 his wisdom3820 fails2638 him, and he said559 to every3605 one that he is a fool.5530

4 If518 the spirit7307 of the ruler4910 rise5927 up against5921 you, leave5117 not your place;4725 for yielding4832 pacifies3240 great1419 offenses.2399

5 There is an evil7451 which I have seen7200 under8478 the sun,8121 as an error7684 which proceeds3318 from the ruler:7989

6 Folly5529 is set5414 in great7227 dignity,4791 and the rich6223 sit3427 in low8216 place.

7 I have seen7200 servants5650 on horses,5483 and princes8269 walking1980 as servants5650 on the earth.776

8 He that digs2658 a pit1475 shall fall5307 into it; and whoever breaks6555 an hedge,1447 a serpent5175 shall bite5391 him.

9 Whoever removes5265 stones68 shall be hurt6087 therewith; and he that splits1234 wood6086 shall be endangered5533 thereby.

10 If518 the iron1270 be blunt,6949 and he do not whet7043 the edge,6440 then must he put1396 to more strength:2428 but wisdom2451 is profitable3504 to direct.3787

11 Surely518 the serpent5175 will bite5391 without3808 enchantment;3908 and a babbler1167 3956 is no369 better.3504

12 The words1697 of a wise2450 man's mouth6310 are gracious;2580 but the lips8193 of a fool3684 will swallow1104 up himself.

13 The beginning8462 of the words1697 of his mouth6310 is foolishness:5531 and the end319 of his talk6310 is mischievous7451 madness.1948

14 A fool5530 also is full7235 of words:1697 a man120 cannot3045 tell5046 what4100 shall be; and what4100 shall be after310 him, who4310 can tell5046 him?

15 The labor5999 of the foolish3684 wearies3021 every one of them, because834 he knows3045 not how834 to go3212 to the city.5892

16 Woe337 to you, O land,776 when your king4428 is a child,5288 and your princes8269 eat398 in the morning!1242

17 Blessed835 are you, O land,776 when your king4428 is the son1121 of nobles,2715 and your princes8269 eat398 in due season,6256 for strength,1369 and not for drunkenness!8358

18 By much slothfulness6103 the building4746 decays;4355 and through idleness8220 of the hands3027 the house1004 drops1811 through.1811

19 A feast3899 is made6213 for laughter,7814 and wine3196 makes merry:8055 but money3701 answers6030 all3605 things.

20 Curse7043 not the king,4428 no408 not in your thought;4093 and curse7043 not the rich6223 in your bedchamber:2315 4296 for a bird5775 of the air8064 shall carry3212 the voice,6963 and that which has1167 wings3671 shall tell5046 the matter.1697