Ecclesiastes 10
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1One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom. 1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. 2The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is. 3Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses. 4If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions. 6Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves. 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 10If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
11If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble. 11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
12The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive. 12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness, 13At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness--
14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future? 14and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming-- who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city. 15The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.
16Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning! 16Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time--with self-control and not in drunkenness. 17Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time-- for strength and not for drunkenness.
18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks. 18Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. 19A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
20Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words. 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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Ecclesiastes 9
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