Ecclesiastes 10:1-14 ▼

1 Flies of death will cause the oil of the perfume to stink, it will ferment: the preciousness of wisdom above the honor of the least folly.

2 The heart of the wise one to his right, and the heart of the foolish one to his left.

3 And also as the foolish one went in the way, his heart was wanting, and he said to all, It is folly.

4 If the spirit of him ruling shall go up against thee, thou shalt not leave thy place; for quietness will put down great sins.

5 There is an evil I saw under the sun as an error going forth from before him having power:

6 Folly was given to great heights, and the rich were set in lowness.

7 I saw servants upon horses, and chiefs going as servants upon the earth.

8 He digging a ditch shall fall into it; he breaking down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.

9 He removing stones; shall suffer pain by them; and he cleaving woods asunder shall be endangered by them.

10 If the iron became dull and he polished not the face, and he will strengthen the forces: and wisdom will make preeminence to prosper.

11 If a serpent will bite without magic; and no preeminence to the possessor of the tongue.

12 The words of the wise one's mouth, grace; and the lips of the foolish one shall swallow him down.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth, folly: and the latter state of his mouth the folly of evil.

14 And the foolish one will multiply words: man shall not know what shall be; and what shall be after him, who shall announce to him?