Ecclesiastes 10

Berean Standard Bible

Wisdom and Folly

1As deadH4194 fliesH2070 bringH5042 a stenchH887 to the perfumer’sH7543 oilH8081, so a littleH4592 follyH5531 outweighsH3368 wisdomH2451 and honorH3519.2A wise man’sH2450 heartH3820 inclines to the rightH3225, but the heartH3820 of a foolH3684 to the leftH8040.3EvenH1571 as the foolH5530 walksH1980 along the roadH1870, his senseH3820 is lackingH2638, and he showsH559 everyoneH3605 that heH1931 is a foolH5530.4IfH518 the ruler’sH4910 temperH7307 flaresH5927 against youH5921, do notH408 abandonH5117 your postH4725, forH3588 calmnessH4832 lays greatH1419 offensesH2399 to restH5117.

5There isH3426 an evilH7451 I have seenH7200 underH8478 the sunH8121—an errorH7684 that proceedsH3318 fromH6440 the rulerH7989:6FollyH5529 is appointedH5414 to greatH7227 heightsH4791,but the richH6223 sitH3427 in lowly positionsH8216.7I have seenH7200 slavesH5650 onH5921 horsebackH5483,while princesH8269 goH1980 onH5921 footH776 like slavesH5650.

8He who digsH2658 a pitH1475 may fallH5307 into it,and he who breachesH6555 a wallH1447 may be bittenH5391 by a snakeH5175.9The one who quarriesH5265 stonesH68 may be injuredH6087 by them,and he who splitsH1234 logsH6086 endangers himselfH5533.10IfH518 the axeH1270 is dullH6949 andH1931 the bladeH6440 unsharpenedH3808 H7043,more strengthH2428 must be exertedH1396,but skillH2451 producesH3504 successH3787.11IfH518 the snakeH5175 bitesH5391 beforeH3808 it is charmedH3908,there is noH369 profitH3504 for the charmerH1167 H3956.

12The wordsH1697 of a wise man’sH2450 mouthH6310 are graciousH2580,but the lipsH8193 of a foolH3684 consume himH1104.13The beginningH8462 of his talkH1697 H6310 is follyH5531,and the endH319 of his speechH6310 is evilH7451 madnessH1948.14Yet the foolH5530 multipliesH7235 wordsH1697.NoH3808 oneH120 knowsH3045 whatH4100 is comingH1961,and whoH4310 can tellH5046 him whatH834 will comeH1961 after himH310?15The toilH5999 of a foolH3684 wearies himH3021,forH834 he does notH3808 knowH3045 the wayH1980 toH413 the cityH5892.

16WoeH337 to you, O landH776 whose kingH4428 is a youthH5288,1and whose princesH8269 feastH398 in the morningH1242.17Blessed are youH835, O landH776 whose kingH4428 is a sonH1121 of noblesH2715,and whose princesH8269 feastH398 at the proper timeH6256—for strengthH1369 and notH3808 for drunkennessH8358.

18Through lazinessH6103 the roofH4746 caves inH4355,and in the handsH3027 of the idleH8220, the houseH1004 leaksH1811.

19A feastH3899 is preparedH6213 for laughterH7814, and wineH3196 makes lifeH2416 merryH8055,but moneyH3701 is the answerH6030 for everythingH3605.

20Do notH408 curseH7043 the kingH4428 evenH1571 in your thoughtsH4093,or curseH7043 the richH6223 even in your bedroomH2315 H4904,forH3588 a birdH5775 of the airH8064 may carryH1980 your wordsH6963,and a winged creatureH1167 H3671 may reportH5046 your speechH1697.