Ecclesiastes

Chapter 10

1  Observations of wisdom and folly.  16  Of riot,  18  slothfulness,  19  and money.  20  Men's thoughts of kings ought to be reverent.

10:1 ¶ Dead {4194} flies {2070} cause the ointment {8081} of the apothecary {7543} <8802> to send forth {5042} <8686> a stinking savour: {887} <8686> [so doth] a little {4592} folly {5531} him that is in reputation {3368} for wisdom {2451} (4480) [and] honour. {3519} (4480)

10:2 A wise man's {2450} heart {3820} [is] at his right hand; {3225} but a fool's {3684} heart {3820} at his left. {8040}

10:3 Yea also, (1571) when he that is a fool {5530} (7945) walketh {1980} <8802> by the way, {1870} his wisdom {3820} faileth {2638} [him], and he saith {559} <8804> to every one (3605) [that] he (1931) [is] a fool. {5530}

10:4 If (518) the spirit {7307} of the ruler {4910} <8802> rise up {5927} <8799> against (5921) thee, leave [3240] <8686> (5117) not (408) thy place; {4725} for (3588) yielding {4832} pacifieth [3240] <8686> (5117) great {1419} offences. {2399}

10:5 There is {3426} an evil {7451} [which] I have seen {7200} <8804> under (8478) the sun, {8121} as an error {7684} [which] proceedeth {3318} <8802> (7945) from {6440} (4480) the ruler: {7989}

10:6 Folly {5529} is set {5414} <8738> in great {7227} dignity, {4791} and the rich {6223} sit {3427} <8799> in low place. {8216}

10:7 I have seen {7200} <8804> servants {5650} upon (5921) horses, {5483} and princes {8269} walking {1980} <8802> as servants {5650} upon (5921) the earth. {776}

10:8 He that diggeth {2658} <8802> a pit {1475} shall fall {5307} <8799> into it; and whoso breaketh {6555} <8802> an hedge, {1447} a serpent {5175} shall bite {5391} <8799> him.

10:9 Whoso removeth {5265} <8688> stones {68} shall be hurt {6087} <8735> therewith; [and] he that cleaveth {1234} <8802> wood {6086} shall be endangered {5533} <8735> thereby.

10:10 If (518) the iron {1270} be blunt, {6949} <8765> and he (1931) do not (3808) whet {7043} <8773> the edge, {6440} then must he put [1396] <8762> to (1396) more strength: {2428} but wisdom {2451} [is] profitable {3504} to direct. {3787} <8687>

10:11 Surely (518) the serpent {5175} will bite {5391} <8799> without (3808) enchantment; {3908} and a babbler {3956} {1167} is no (369) better. {3504}

10:12 The words {1697} of a wise man's {2450} mouth {6310} [are] gracious; {2580} but the lips {8193} of a fool {3684} will swallow up {1104} <8762> himself.

10:13 The beginning {8462} of the words {1697} of his mouth {6310} [is] foolishness: {5531} and the end {319} of his talk {6310} [is] mischievous {7451} madness. {1948}

10:14 A fool {5530} also is full {7235} <8686> of words: {1697} a man {120} cannot (3808) tell {3045} <8799> what shall be; (4100) (7945) (1961) and what (834) shall be (1961) after {310} (4480) him, who (4310) can tell {5046} <8686> him?

10:15 The labour {5999} of the foolish {3684} wearieth {3021} <8762> every one of them, because (834) he knoweth {3045} <8804> not (3808) how to go [3212] <8800> (1980) to (413) the city. {5892}

10:16 ¶ Woe {337} to thee, O land, {776} when thy king {4428} (7945) [is] a child, {5288} and thy princes {8269} eat {398} <8799> in the morning! {1242}

10:17 Blessed {835} [art] thou, O land, {776} when thy king {4428} (7945) [is] the son {1121} of nobles, {2715} and thy princes {8269} eat {398} <8799> in due season, {6256} for strength, {1369} and not (3808) for drunkenness! {8358}

10:18 ¶ By much slothfulness {6103} the building {4746} decayeth; {4355} <8735> and through idleness {8220} of the hands {3027} the house {1004} droppeth through. {1811} <8799>

10:19 ¶ A feast {3899} is made {6213} <8802> for laughter, {7814} and wine {3196} maketh merry: {8055} {2416} <8762> but money {3701} answereth {6030} <8799> (853) all (3605) [things].

10:20 ¶ Curse {7043} <8762> not (408) the king, {4428} no (1571) not in thy thought; {4093} and curse {7043} <8762> not (408) the rich {6223} in thy bedchamber: {2315} {4904} for (3588) a bird {5775} of the air {8064} shall carry [3212] <8686> (1980) (853) the voice, {6963} and that which hath {1167} wings {3671} shall tell {5046} <8686> the matter. {1697}