Ecclesiastes 10

1. ¹Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [supplied: and] ferment; [supplied: so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [supplied: and] honour.
2. ²The heart of a wise [supplied: man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3. ³Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [supplied: him], and he saith to every one [supplied: that] he is a fool.
4. ⁴If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
5. ⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [supplied: that] proceedeth from the ruler:
6. ⁶folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
7. ⁷I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8. ⁸He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9. ⁹Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10. ¹⁰If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
11. ¹¹If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12. ¹²The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
13. ¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14. ¹⁴And the fool multiplieth words: [supplied: yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
15. ¹⁵The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
16. ¹⁶Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17. ¹⁷Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [supplied: due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18. ¹⁸By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
19. ¹⁹A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
20. ²⁰Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

Words in italics were supplied by the translators.

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