Eclesiastes 10

¹ Dead flies cause to stinke, & putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.

² ASo that he does all things well and justly, where as the fool does the contrary.wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart [is] at his left.

³ Also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and heBy his doings he betrays himself.saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool.

⁴ If theIf your superior is angry with you, be discrete and not moved.spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

⁵ There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as anMeaning that it is an evil thing when they who are in authority fail and do not do their duty.error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:

⁶ Folly is set in great dignity, and theThey who are rich in wisdom and virtue.rich sit in low place.

⁷ I haue seene seruants on horses, and princes walking as seruants on the ground.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use moreWithout wisdom, whatever a man takes in hand, turns to his own hurt.strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.

¹¹ If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.

¹² The words of ye mouth of a wise man haue grace: but the lippes of a foole deuoure himselfe.

¹³ The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse.

¹⁴ For the foole multiplieth woordes, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?

¹⁵ The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to theThe ignorance and beastliness of the wicked is such that they know not common things, and yet will discuss high matters.city.

¹⁶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] aThat is, without wisdom and counsel.child, and thy princesAre given to their lusts and pleasures.eat in the morning!

¹⁷ Blessed [art] thou, O land, when thy king [is] the sonMeaning, when he is noble for virtue and wisdom and with the gifts of God.of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸ By slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through.

¹⁹ They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the liuing, but siluer answereth to all.

²⁰ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for aYou cannot work evil so secretly that it will not be known.bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.