Ecclesiastes 10

10 ¹Dead flies make the perfumer's oil stink and ferment; so a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor. ²The heart of the wise inclines to his right, but the heart of a fool to his left. ³Even when the fool walks along the road, he lacks sense, and he shows everyone that he is a fool. ⁴If the ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the kind of error that comes from a ruler: ⁶foolishness is set in many high places, while the rich sit in low positions. ⁷I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves. ⁸Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. ⁹Whoever quarries stones may be hurt by them, and whoever splits logs is endangered by them. ¹⁰If the axe is dull and its edge is not sharpened, you have to use more strength; but wisdom brings success.

¹¹If the snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer gains nothing. ¹²A wise man's words bring him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. ¹³The beginning of his words is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness. ¹⁴Yet the fool keeps on talking. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?

¹⁵Fools wear themselves out with their work, for they do not even know the way to town. ¹⁶Woe to you, land, when your king is a child and your princes feast in the morning. ¹⁷Blessed are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time—for strength, and not for drunkenness. ¹⁸Through laziness the rafters sag, and through idle hands the house leaks. ¹⁹Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. ²⁰Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your words, and a winged creature may report what you say.