Ecclesiastes 10

1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.

3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

3 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.

6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.

8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.

9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.

10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

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

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

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.

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

16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

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

17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

20 Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.