Ecclesiastes 10

¹Dead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.

²The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a foole is at his left hand.

³And also when the foole goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he telleth vnto all that he is a foole.

⁴If the spirite of him that ruleth, rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place: for gentlenes pacifieth great sinnes.

⁵There is an euil that I haue seene vnder the sunne, as an errour that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.

⁶Follie is set in great excellencie, and the riche set in the lowe place.

⁷I haue seene seruants on horses, and princes walking as seruants on the ground.

⁸He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.

¹⁰If the yron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more strength: but the excellencie to direct a thing is wisedome.

¹¹If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.

¹²The words of ye mouth of a wise man haue grace: but the lippes of a foole deuoure himselfe.

¹³The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse.

¹⁴For the foole multiplieth woordes, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?

¹⁵The labour of the foolish doeth wearie him: for he knoweth not to goe into the citie.

¹⁶Woe to thee, O lande, when thy King is a childe, and thy princes eate in the morning.

¹⁷Blessed art thou, O land, when thy King is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in time, for strength and not for drunkennesse.

¹⁸By slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through.

¹⁹They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the liuing, but siluer answereth to all.

²⁰Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the foule of the heauen shall carie the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.

Ecclesiastes 10

¹Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

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

³Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

⁵There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

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

⁷I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

⁸He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

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

¹⁴A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

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.

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.