Ecclesiastes 10 - Modern English Version

¹ Dead flies cause the perfumer’s ointment to give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

² The heart of the wise moves him to the right for protection, but the heart of a fool to the left for vulnerability.

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

⁴ If the angry spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your position, for calmness pacifies great offenses.

⁵ There is an evil that I have observed under the sun, as an error proceeding from the ruler:

⁶ the fool is present in many high places of position, but the rich sit in the low places.

⁷ I have observed slaves on horses, and officials walking on the ground like slaves.

⁸ The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.

⁹ The one who quarries stones will be hurt by them, and the one who splits wood will be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom is profitable to succeed.

¹¹ If a serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

¹² The words from the mouth of a wise person bring favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

¹³ The beginning of the words from his mouth are folly; so the end of his words are evil madness.

¹⁴ A fool increases his words. No one knows what is to come; who can tell him what will come after him?

¹⁵ The toil of fools wearies them, for they do not even know the way to the city!

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

¹⁷ Happy are you, O land, when your king is from nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸ By slothfulness the rafters cave in, and by the idleness of one’s hands the house drips.

¹⁹ A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry, but money resolves everything.

²⁰ Do not curse the king, even in your mind; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air will carry your voice, and a winged creature will declare the matter.