Ecclesiastes 10
10
The Burden of Folly
1Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink;#Ex 30:25
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise person’s heart goes to the#10:2 Lit his right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,
and he shows everyone he is a fool.#Pr 13:16; 18:2
4If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your post,#Ec 8:3
for calmness puts great offenses to rest.#1Sm 25:24–33; Pr 25:15
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
6The fool is appointed to great heights,#Est 3:1; Pr 28:12; 29:2
but the rich remain in lowly positions.
7I have seen slaves on horses,#Pr 19:10
but princes walking on the ground like slaves.#Est 6:8–10
8The one who digs a pit may fall into it,#Ps 7:15
and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.#Am 5:19
9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;
the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,
then one must exert more strength;
however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed,#Jr 8:17
then there is no advantage for the charmer.#10:11 Lit master of the tongue
12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious,#Pr 10:32; 22:11; Lk 4:22
but the lips of a fool consume him.#Pr 18:7
13The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly,
but the end of his speaking is evil madness;
14yet the fool multiplies words.
No one knows what will happen,
and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?#Ec 8:7,17
15The struggles of fools weary them,
for they don’t know how to go to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth#Pr 30:21–22; Is 3:4,12
and your princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles
and your princes feast at the proper time —
for strength and not for drunkenness.#Pr 31:4; Is 5:11
18Because of laziness the roof caves in,
and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
19A feast is prepared for laughter,
and wine makes life happy,#Ps 104:15
and money#10:19 Lit silver is the answer for everything.#Ec 7:12
20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,#Ex 22:28
and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom,#2Kg 6:12; Lk 12:3
for a bird of the sky may carry the message,
and a winged creature may report the matter.
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Ecclesiastes 10: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
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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