Ecclesiastes 10:6-17

6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.1 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cutteth wood shall be endangered by it. 10If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.2

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.3 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.4 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?5 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!