Ecclesiastes
Chapter
10
1
Dead flies turn the perfumer's ointment fetid and putrid . . .
so
a little folly outweighs massive wisdom.
2
A wise man's mind tends toward the right hand . . .
a
fool's toward the left.
3
A fool's mind is also wanting when he travels,
and
he lets everybody know he is a fool.
4
If the wrath of a lord flares up against you,
don't
give up your post . . .
for
when wrath abates,
grave
offenses are pardoned.
5
Here is an evil I have seen under the sun . . .
as
great as an error committed by a ruler.
6
Folly was placed on lofty heights,
while
rich men sat in low estate.
7
I have seen slaves on horseback,
and
nobles walking on the ground like slaves.
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it.
He who breaches a stone fence will be bitten by a snake.
9 He who quarries stones will be hurt by them.
He who splits wood will be harmed by it.
10
If the ax has become dull
and
he has not whetted the edge,
he
must exert more strength.
Thus
the advantage of a skill . . .
{depends
on the exercise of} prudence.
11
If the snake bites because no spell was uttered,
no
advantage is gained by the trained charmer.
12
A wise man's talk brings him favor,
but
a fool's lips are his undoing.
13
His talk begins as silliness
and
ends as disastrous madness.
14 Yet the fool talks and talks!
A man cannot know what will happen.
Who can tell him what the future holds?
15
A fool's exertions tire him out . . .
for
he doesn't know how to get to a town.
16
Alas for you,
O
land whose king is a lackey
and
whose ministers dine in the morning!
17
Happy are you,
O
land whose king is a master
and
whose ministers dine at the proper time . . .
with
restraint, not with guzzling!
18
Through slothfulness . . . the ceiling sags . . .
through
lazy hands . . . the house caves in.
19 They make a banquet for revelry.
Wine
makes life merry,
and
money answers every need.
20 Don't revile a king even among your intimates.
Don't revile a rich man even in your bedchamber.
For
a bird of the air may carry the utterance . . .
and
a winged creature my report the word.
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