American Standard Version

Ecclesiastes 10

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1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; `so' doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one `that' he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; `and' he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also multiplieth words: `yet' man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Scripture text: American Standard Version. Public domain. Translation details.