Ecclesiastes 10:6-17

6Fools are placed in many high positions, while the rich sit in low ones.

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

8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a fence may be bitten by a snake.

9Whoever quarries stones may be hurt by them, and whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the iron axe is blunt and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must exert more force. So wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

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

12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool destroy him.

13The words from his mouth begin as folly and end as grievous madness—

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

15The mischief of fools wearies them for he doesn’t know how to go to town.

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

17Happy are you, O land, when your king is a son of nobles, and your princes eat at the proper time— in self-control and not in drunkenness!