Ecclesiastes 10
10
1Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment,
And cause it to give off a foul odor;
So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
But a fool’s heart at his left.
3Even when a fool walks along the way,
He lacks wisdom,
#Prov. 13:16; 18:2And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises against you,
#Eccl. 8:3Do not leave your post;
For #1 Sam. 25:24–33; Prov. 25:15conciliation pacifies great offenses.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
As an error proceeding from the ruler:
6#Esth. 3:1Folly is set in great dignity,
While the rich sit in a lowly place.
7I have seen servants #Prov. 19:10; 30:22on horses,
While princes walk on the ground like servants.
8#Ps. 7:15; Prov. 26:27He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,
And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
10If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom brings success.
11A serpent may bite #Ps. 58:4, 5; Jer. 8:17when it is not charmed;
The babbler is no different.
12#Prov. 10:32; Luke 4:22The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
But #Prov. 10:14; Eccl. 4:5the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
13The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is raving madness.
14#(Prov. 15:2); Eccl. 5:3A fool also multiplies words.
No man knows what is to be;
Who can tell him #Eccl. 3:22; 8:7what will be after him?
15The labor of fools wearies them,
For they do not even know how to go to the city!
16#Is. 3:4, 5; 5:11Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
And your princes feast in the morning!
17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles,
And your #Prov. 31:4; Is. 5:11princes feast at the proper time—
For strength and not for drunkenness!
18Because of laziness the building decays,
And #Prov. 24:30–34through idleness of hands the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter,
And #Judg. 9:13; Ps. 104:15; Eccl. 2:3wine makes merry;
But money answers everything.
20#Ex. 22:28; Acts 23:5Do not curse the king, even in your thought;
Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
For a bird of the air may carry your voice,
And a bird in flight may tell the matter.
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Ecclesiastes 10: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) 10
10
1Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment stink, ferment; a little folly outweighs wisdom, esteem.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3And also, when a fool walks along the way, his heart fails, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness lays to rest great faults.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, as a mistake coming from the ruler:
6Folly is set in many high positions, while the rich sit in a humble place.
7I have seen servants on horses – and rulers walking on the ground like servants.
8He who digs a pit falls into it, and whoever breaks through a wall is bitten by a snake.
9He who quarries stones is hurt by them. He who splits wood is endangered by it.
10If an iron tool is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he needs more strength, and wisdom is advantageous to make right.
11If the snake bites without enchantment, then ‘the master of the tongue’ is no better!
12Words of a wise man’s mouth show favour, but the lips of a fool swallow him up;
13the beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness.
14And a fool increases words; a man knows not what shall come to be; and who declares to him what shall be after him?
15The labour of fools wearies them, because not one knows how to go to the city!
16Woe to you, O land, when your sovereign is a youth, and your rulers feast in the morning!
17Blessed are you, O land, when your sovereign is the son of nobles, and your rulers feast in due season – for strength and not for drunkenness!
18Because of laziness the framework tumbles, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life; and the silver answers all.
20Do not curse the sovereign, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the heavens conveys the voice, and a bird in flight makes the matter known.
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