Ecclesiastes 10
Dead Flies Spoil the Perfumer’s Ointment
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A Little Folly Outweighs Wisdom
10:1Death-bringing flies will spoil a preparation of fragrant oil; a little wisdom is precious beyond the glory of great folly.
10:2A wise person’s heart is toward his right, but a fool’s heart is toward his left.
10:3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart will be lacking, and everything he considers is folly.
10:4If the spirit of one in authority rises against you, do not leave your place, for healing will put great sins to rest.
Slaves on Horses and Rulers Walking
10:5There is an evil I saw under the sun, like an unintended act proceeding from one in authority:
10:6the fool was set in great heights, while the rich will sit in a low place.
10:7I saw slaves on horses and rulers walking like slaves upon the ground.
The Hazards of Every Labor
10:8Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever tears down a fence will be bitten by a snake.
10:9Whoever lifts stones will be worn out by them; whoever splits wood will be endangered by it.
10:10If the iron falls out and he has troubled the face, he will strengthen his forces; and wisdom is the advantage of the courageous man.
10:11If the snake bites without a whispered charm, there is no advantage for the charmer.
The Wise Man’s Words and the Fool’s
10:12The words of a wise person’s mouth are gracious, but a fool’s lips will drown him.
10:13The beginning of his mouth’s words is folly, and the end of his speech is evil wandering.
10:14The fool multiplies words. A person did not know what happened, and who will tell him what will be after him?
10:15The toil of fools will weary them, the one who did not know how to go to the city.
Woe to You, City, Whose King Is Young
10:16Woe to you, city, whose king is young and whose rulers eat in the morning!
10:17Blessed are you, land, whose king is a son of free people and whose rulers will eat at the proper time in strength and will not be ashamed!
10:18Through laziness the roof beams will sink, and through idle hands the house will leak.
10:19They make bread for laughter, and wine gladdens the living, and everything will listen to money.
10:20Even in your conscience do not curse a king, and in the inner rooms of your bedchambers do not curse a rich person, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound, and one with wings will report the word.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.