Ecclesiastes 10:1-17 ▼

1 One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.

2 A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.

3 Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

4 If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.

5 I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.

6 Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.

7 I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.

8 One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9 One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 If 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.

11 If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.

12 The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.

13 At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,

14 yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?

15 The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!

17 Blessed 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.