Ecclesiastes 10
10
1Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odor;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right,
but a fool's heart toward the left.
3Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to every one that he is a fool.
4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
for deference will make amends for great offenses.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on foot like slaves.
8He who digs a pit will fall into it;
and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9He who quarries stones is hurt by them;
and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
10If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge,
he must put forth more strength;
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage in a charmer.
12The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is wicked madness.
14A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
15The toil of a fool wearies him,
so that he does not know the way to the city.
16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of free men,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
20Even in your thought, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedchamber curse the rich;
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
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 man’s heart goes to the # Lit his right,
but a fool’s heart to the # Lit his 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 place, # 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 trees 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. # Lit master of the tongue
12The words from the mouth of a wise man 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 of 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 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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