Ecclesiastes 10

1Dead flies cause the oilH8081 of the perfumerH7543 to send forthH5042 an evil odor; so doth a littleH4592 follyH5531 outweigh wisdomH2451 and honorH3519. 2A wiseH2450 man’s heartH3820 is at his rightH3225 handH3225; but a fool’sH3684 heartH3820 at his left. 3Yea alsoH1571, when the foolH5530 walketh by the wayH1870, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a foolH5530. 4If the spiritH7307 of the rulerH4910 rise up against thee, leave not thy placeH4725; for gentleness allayeth greatH1419 offences.

5There is an evilH7451 which I have seenH7200 under the sunH8121, as it were an error which proceedeth from the rulerH7989: 6folly is setH5414 in greatH7227 dignity, and the richH6223 sitH3427 in a lowH8216 place. 7I have seenH7200 servantsH5650 upon horsesH5483, and princesH8269 walkingH1980 like servantsH5650 upon the earthH776.

8He that diggeth a pit shall fallH5307 into it; and whoso breaketh through a wallH1447, a serpent shall bite him. 9Whoso heweth out stonesH68 shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth woodH6086 is endangered thereby. 10If the ironH1270 be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strengthH2428: but wisdomH2451 is profitable to direct. 11If the serpent bite before it is charmedH3908, then is there no advantageH3504 in the charmer.

12The wordsH1697 of a wiseH2450 man’s mouthH6310 are gracious; but the lipsH8193 of a foolH3684 will swallowH1104 up himself. 13The beginning of the wordsH1697 of his mouthH6310 is foolishness; and the endH319 of his talk is mischievous madness. 14A foolH5530 also multiplieth wordsH1697: yet manH120 knoweth not what shall beH1961; and that which shall beH1961 after him, who can tellH5046 him? 15The laborH5999 of foolsH3684 wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the cityH5892.

16Woe to thee, O landH776, when thy kingH4428 is a child, and thy princesH8269 eatH398 in the morningH1242! 17Happy art thou, O landH776, when thy kingH4428 is the sonH1121 of nobles, and thy princesH8269 eatH398 in due season, for strengthH1369, and not for drunkenness! 18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the handsH3027 the houseH1004 leaketh. 19A feast is madeH6213 for laughterH7814, and wineH3196 maketh gladH8055 the lifeH2416; and moneyH3701 answereth all things. 20Revile not the kingH4428, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the richH6223 in thy bedchamber: for a birdH5775 of the heavensH8064 shall carry the voiceH6963, and that which hath wingsH3671 shall tellH5046 the matterH1697.