JPS - Ecclesiastes - 10

10:1  Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.

10:2  A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.

10:3  Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

10:4  If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.

10:5  There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:

10:6  Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.

10:7  I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

10:8  He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.

10:9  Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

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

10:11  If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.

10:12  The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

10:13  The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.

10:14  A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

10:15  The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.

10:16  Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!

10:17  Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!

10:18  By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

10:19  A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.

10:20  Curse 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.