Ecclesiastes 10
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Holman Christian Standard BibleInternational Standard Version
1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 1As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, so also does a little foolishness to one's reputation of wisdom and honor.
2A wise man's heart goes to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. 2A wise man's heart tends toward his right, but a fool's heart tends toward his left.
3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool. 3Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense; he proclaims to everyone that he's a fool.
4If the ruler's anger rises against you, don't leave your place, for calmness puts great offenses to rest. 4If your overseer gets angry at you, don't resign, because calmness pacifies great offenses.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler: 5Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer:
6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. 6Foolishness is given great honor, while the prosperous sit in lowly places.
7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves. 7And I have observed servants riding on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants.
8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may suffer a snake bite.
9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits trees may be endangered by them. 9Someone who quarries stone might be injured; someone splitting logs can fall into danger.
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. 10If someone's ax is blunt—the edge isn't sharpened— then more strength will be needed. Putting wisdom to work will bring success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. 11If a serpent strikes despite being charmed, there's no point in being a snake charmer.
12The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 12The words spoken by the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool will devour him.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness. 13He begins his speech with foolishness, and concludes it with evil madness.
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? 14The fool overflows with words, and no one can predict what will happen. As to what will happen after him, who can explain it?
15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don't know how to go to the city. 15The work of a fool so wears him out that he can't even find his way to town.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning. 16Woe to the land whose king is a youth and whose 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. 17That land is blessed whose king is of noble birth, whose princes feast at the right time, for strength, and not to become drunk.
18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. 18Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates, and a house leaks because of idleness.
19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything. 19Festivals are for laughter, wine makes life pleasant, and money speaks to everything.
20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter. 20Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird will fly by and tell what you say, or something with wings may talk about it.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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Ecclesiastes 9
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