Ecclesiastes 10

1Dead flies make the perfumer’s oil stink and go bad; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2The heart of the wise leans to the right, the heart of a fool to the left. 3Even when fools walk along the road, they lack sense, and they show everyone that they are fools. 4If the ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness can lay great offenses to rest. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the kind of error that comes from a ruler: 6Folly is set in many high positions, while the rich sit in lowly places. 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while officials go on foot like slaves. 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them, and whoever splits logs is put in danger by them. 10If the ax is blunt and its edge is not sharpened, more strength must be used; but wisdom brings the gain of success. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no gain in being a charmer. 12The words of a wise person’s mouth win favor, but fools are swallowed up by their own lips. 13The words of their mouths begin with folly, and their talk ends in harmful madness. 14A fool keeps on talking, though no one knows what is to come, and who can tell anyone what will happen after them? 15The hard work of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town. 16Woe to you, land, when your king is a boy and your officials feast in the morning! 17How blessed you are, land, when your king is of noble birth, and your officials eat at the proper time, to gain strength and not to get drunk. 18Through laziness the roof beams sag, and through idle hands the house leaks. 19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, and money answers every need. 20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, nor the rich even where you sleep, for a bird in the sky may carry off your words, and a winged creature may report what you said.