Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 - The Burden Of Folly

¹ Flies of death will cause the oil of the perfume to stink, it will ferment: the preciousness of wisdom above the honor of the least folly. ² The heart of the wise one to his right, and the heart of the foolish one to his left. ³ And also as the foolish one went in the way, his heart was wanting, and he said to all, It is folly. ⁴ If the spirit of him ruling shall go up against thee, thou shalt not leave thy place; for quietness will put down great sins.

⁵ There is an evil I saw under the sun as an error going forth from before him having power:

⁶ Folly was given to great heights, and the rich were set in lowness. ⁷ I saw servants upon horses, and chiefs going as servants upon the earth.

⁸ He digging a ditch shall fall into it; he breaking down a wall, a serpent shall bite him. ⁹ He removing stones; shall suffer pain by them; and he cleaving woods asunder shall be endangered by them. ¹⁰ If the iron became dull and he polished not the face, and he will strengthen the forces: and wisdom will make preeminence to prosper. ¹¹ If a serpent will bite without magic; and no pre?minence to the possessor of the tongue. ¹² The words of the wise one's mouth, grace; and the lips of the foolish one shall swallow him down. ¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth, folly: and the latter state of his mouth the folly of evil. ¹⁴ And the foolish one will multiply words: man shall not know what shall be; and what shall be after him, who shall announce to him? ¹⁵ The labor of the foolish will weary them, because he knew not to go to the city. ¹⁶ Wo! to thee, O land: thy king a youth, and thy chiefs will eat in the morning. ¹⁷ Happy thou, O land: thy king the son of nobles, and thy chiefs shall eat in time, in strength and not in drinking. ¹⁸ By sloth the frame work will pine away; and by the letting down of the hands, the house will drop. ¹⁹ For laughter they make bread, and wine will gladden the living: and silver will answer with all. ²⁰ Thou shalt not curse the king in thy consciousness, and in thy bed-chamber thou shalt not curse the rich for the bird of the heavens will bring the voice, and the possessor of wings shall announce the word.