LEB - Ecclesiastes - 10

10:1  Dead flies cause a bad smell and ruin the ointment of the perfumer. So also a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

10:2  The heart of the wise inclines to his right, but the heart of the fool inclines to his left.

10:3  Even when the fool walks along the road, he lacks sense; he tells everyone that he is a fool.

10:4  If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness can undo great offenses.

10:5  There is an evil I have seen under the sun— it is an error that proceeds from a ruler!

10:6  The fool is set in many high places, but the rich sit in lowly places.

10:7  I have even seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the earth!

10:8  Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever breaks through a wall, a snake will bite him.

10:9  Whoever ⌞quarries⌟ stones will be wounded by them. Whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.

10:10  If the ax is blunt but one does not sharpen its edge, ⌞he must exert more effort⌟, but the advantage of wisdom is it brings success.

10:11  If the snake bites before the charming, ⌞the snake charmer will not succeed⌟.

10:12  The wise man wins favor by the words of his mouth, but the fool is devoured by his own lips.

10:13  He begins by saying what is foolish and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion.

10:14  The fool ⌞talks too much⌟, for no one knows what will be. Who can tell anyone what will happen ⌞in the future⌟?

10:15  The fool is so worn out by a hard day’s work ⌞he cannot even find his way home at night⌟.

10:16  Woe to you, O land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning.

10:17  Blessed are you, O land, when your king is a son of nobility and your princes feast at the proper time— to gain strength and not to get drunk.

10:18  Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.

10:19  ⌞Feasts are held for celebration⌟, wine cheers the living, and money answers everything.

10:20  Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich even in your own bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice; a winged messenger may repeat your words.