Ecclesiastes 10
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NET BibleNew American Standard Bible 1995
1One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom. 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.
2A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. 2A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.
3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is. 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses. 4If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.
5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--
6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions. 6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves. 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.
9One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
11If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble. 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive. 12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness, 13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.
14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future? 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city. 15The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.
16Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning! 16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time--with self-control and not in drunkenness. 17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness.
18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks. 18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. 19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.
20Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words. 20Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.
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Ecclesiastes 9
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