Ecclesiastes 10 - Easy To Read Version

¹ A few dead flies will make even the best perfume smell bad. In the same way, a little foolishness can ruin much wisdom and honor.

² A wise man’s thoughts lead him in the right way. But the thoughts of a foolish person leads him the wrong way.

³ A fool shows his foolishness, even when he is just walking down the road. So everyone sees that he is a foolish person.

⁴ Don’t quit your job just because the boss is angry at you. If you remain calm and helpful, you can correct even great mistakes. {\cf2\super [39]}

⁵ Here is something else that I have seen in this life. And it is not fair. It is the kind of mistake that rulers make:

⁶ Foolish people are given important positions, while rich people get jobs that are not important.

⁷ I have seen people that should be servants riding on horses, while people that should be rulers were walking \{beside them like slaves\}.

⁸ A person that digs a hole might fall into it. A person that knocks down a wall might be bitten by a snake.

⁹ A person that moves large stones might be hurt by them. And a person that cuts trees is in danger—\{the trees might fall on him\}.

¹⁰ But wisdom will make any job easier. It is very hard to cut with a dull knife. But if a person sharpens the knife, then the job is easier. \{Wisdom is like that.\}

¹¹ A person might know how to control snakes. But that skill is useless if a snake bites someone when he is not around. \{Wisdom is like that.\}

¹² A wise man’s words bring praise.\par But a foolish person’s words bring destruction.\par

¹³ A foolish person begins by saying foolish things. In the end, he is saying crazy things.

¹⁴ A foolish person is always talking \{about what he will do\}. But no one knows what will happen in the future. No one can tell what will happen later.

¹⁵ A foolish person isn’t smart enough\par to find his way home,\par so he must work hard all his life.\par

¹⁶ It is very bad for a country if the king is like a child. And it is very bad for a country if its rulers use all their time eating.

¹⁷ But it is very good for a country if the king comes from a good family. {\cf2\super [40]} And it is very good for a country if the rulers control their eating and drinking. Those rulers eat and drink to become strong, not to become drunk.

¹⁸ If a person is too lazy to work,\par his house will begin to leak,\par and the roof will fall in.\par

¹⁹ People enjoy eating, and wine makes life happier. But money solves a lot of problems.

²⁰ Don’t say bad things about the king. Don’t even think bad things about him. And don’t say bad things about rich people, even if you are alone in your home. Why? Because a little bird might fly and tell them everything you said.