Ecclesiastes 10
10
1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
3Even as fools walk along the road,
they lack sense
and show everyone how stupid they are.
4If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6Fools are put in many high positions,
while the rich occupy the low ones.
7I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.
8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
11If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.
12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
but fools are consumed by their own lips.
13At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness—
14and fools multiply words.
No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
15The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.
16Woe to the land whose king was a servant#10:16 Or king is a child
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.
18Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter,
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
20Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Ecclesiastes 10
10
1A few dead flies will make even the best perfume stink. In the same way, a little foolishness can ruin much wisdom and honor.
2The thoughts of the wise lead them the right way, but the thoughts of the foolish lead them the wrong way. 3Fools show how foolish they are, just walking down the road. Their minds are empty, and everyone knows it.
4Don’t quit your job simply because the boss is angry with you. If you remain calm and helpful, you can correct even great mistakes.#10:4 If you … great mistakes Literally, “A healer can put to rest great sins.” The word “healer” means a person who is forgiving and tries to help other people.
5Here is something else that I have seen in this life#10:5 in this life Literally, “under the sun.” that isn’t fair. It is the kind of mistake that rulers make. 6Fools are given important positions, while the rich get jobs that are not important. 7I have seen servants riding on horses, while rulers were walking beside them like slaves.
Every Job Has Its Dangers
8If you dig a hole, you might fall into it. If you break down a wall, you might be bitten by a snake. 9If you are moving large stones, you might be hurt by them. If you cut down a tree, you are in danger of it falling on you.
10But wisdom will make any job easier. It is very hard to cut with a dull knife. But if you sharpen the knife, the job is easier.
11Someone might know how to control snakes. But that skill is useless if a snake bites when that person is not around.
12Words from the wise bring praise,
but words from a fool bring destruction.
13Fools begin by saying something foolish. But in the end, they speak nonsense. 14Fools are always talking about what they will do, but you never know what will happen. People cannot tell what will happen in the future.
15Fools aren’t smart enough to find their way home,
so they must work hard all their lives.
The Value of Work
16It is very bad for a country if the king is like a child. And it is very bad for a country if its rulers use all their time eating. 17But it is very good for a country if the king comes from a good family.#10:17 comes from a good family Literally, “is a son of freedmen.” This is a person who was never a slave and whose parents were not slaves. And it is very good for a country if the rulers control their eating and drinking. They eat and drink to become strong, not to become drunk.
18If someone is too lazy to work,
their house will begin to leak, and the roof will fall in.
19People enjoy eating, and wine makes life happier. But money solves a lot of problems.
Gossip
20Don’t say bad things about the king. Don’t even think bad things about him. And don’t say bad things about rich people, even if you are alone in your home. A little bird might fly and tell them everything you said.
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