Ecclesiastes 10

1Dead flies cause a perfumer's oil to send forth a stinking odor; so a little folly is weightier than wisdom and honor.

2The heart of the wise inclines to his right, but the heart of the fool to his left.

3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart fails him, and he says to everyone he is a fool.

4If the ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your place, for healing quiets great offenses.

5There is an adversity I have seen under the sun, like a mistake proceeding from the ruler.

6Folly is appointed in great dignities, and the rich sit in low estate.

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

8Whoever digs a pit falls into it, and whoever breaches a wall a serpent bites him.

9Whoever hauls stones will be hurt by them; whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.

10If the iron is blunt and he does not sharpen the edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom brings profit through directing properly.

11If a serpent bites without enchantment, the master of the tongue gains no profit.

12Words from a wise man's mouth are pleasant, but a fool's lips devour him.

13The first words out of his mouth are foolishness, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

14The fool multiplies words. Man does not know what will be, and what will be after him—who can tell him?

15The toil of fools wearies him, for he does not know how to go to the city.

16Woe to you, land, whose king is a boy and whose princes eat in the morning.

17How blessed you are, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes eat at the proper time for strength, not for drunkenness!

18Through slothfulness the rafters decay, and through idleness of hands the house drips.

19Bread is made for laughter, wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.

20Even in your thoughts do not curse the king, and in your bedchamber do not curse the rich, for a bird of the heavens will carry the voice, and that which has wings will tell the matter.