Ecclesiastes 10:12-20

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.1 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.2 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?3 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.4

20Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.5