Ecclesiastes 10
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Ecclesiastes 10
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| Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish. | Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. |
| The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong. | A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. |
| And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish. | Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool. |
| If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked. | If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences. |
| There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler: | There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler: |
| The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low. | folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. |
| I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants. | I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth. |
| He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment. | He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him. |
| He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger. | Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby. |
| If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well. | 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. |
| If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power. | If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer. |
| The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction. | The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. |
| The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime. | The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. |
| The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him? | A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him? |
| The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town. | The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city. |
| Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning. | Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! |
| Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting. | Happy 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! |
| When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house. | By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. |
| A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted. | A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things. |
| Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it. | Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. |
