| 1 | Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy [and] send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly [in him who is valued for wisdom] outweigh wisdom and honor. |
| 2 | A wise man’s heart turns him toward his right hand, but a fool’s heart toward his left. |
| 3 | Even when he who is a fool walks along the road, his heart
and
understanding fail him, and he says of everyone
and
to everyone that he is a fool. |
| 4 | If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place [or show a resisting spirit]; for gentleness
and
calmness prevent
or
put a stop to great offenses. |
| 5 | There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler: |
| 6 | Folly is set in great dignity
and
in high places, and the rich sit in low places. |
| 7 | I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking like slaves on the earth. |
| 8 | He who digs a pit [for others] will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a fence
or
a [stone] wall, a serpent will bite him. |
| 9 | Whoever removes [landmark] stones
or
hews out [new ones with similar intent] will be hurt with them,
and
he who fells trees will be endangered by them. |
| 10 | If the ax is dull and the man does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps him to succeed. |
| 11 | If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then it is no use to call a charmer [and the slanderer is no better than the uncharmed snake]. |
| 12 | The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious
and
win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. |
| 13 | The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness. |
| 14 | A fool also multiplies words, though no man can tell what will be—and what will happen after he is gone, who can tell him? |
| 15 | The labor of fools wearies every one of them, because [he is so ignorant of the ordinary matters that] he does not even know how to get to town. |
| 16 | Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child
or
a servant and when your officials feast in the morning! |
| 17 | Happy (fortunate and to be envied) are you, O land, when your king is a free man
and
of noble birth
and
character and when your officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness! |
| 18 | Through indolence the rafters [of state affairs] decay
and
the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks. |
| 19 | [Instead of repairing the breaches, the officials] make a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and [depend on tax] money to answer for all of it. |
| 20 | Curse not the king, no, not even in your thoughts, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber, for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and a winged creature will tell the matter. |
Cross references:
-
Ecclesiastes 10:2 : Matt. 25:31-41.
-
Ecclesiastes 10:8 : Ps. 57:6.
-
Ecclesiastes 10:9 : Prov. 26:27.
-
Ecclesiastes 10:17 : Isa. 32:8.
-
Ecclesiastes 10:20 : Exod. 22:28.
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