Ecclesiastes 10:6-17

6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions.

7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves.

8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.

11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.

12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

13The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness;

14yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?

15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don’t know how to go to the city.

16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning.

17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time — for strength and not for drunkenness.