Ecclesiastes 10:5-20 - The Ironies Of Life

⁵ There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a sin which comes from a ruler's presence;

⁶ foolishness is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. ⁷ I have seen servants on horses and princes walking as servants on the earth.

⁸ He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks a hedge, a snake shall bite him. ⁹ Whoever removes stones shall be hurt with them. He who splits wood shall be endangered by it. ¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must put more strength to it. But wisdom is profitable to direct. ¹¹ Surely the snake will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. ¹² The words of a wise mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow him. ¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is wicked madness. ¹⁴ A fool also makes many words; a man knows not what they shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? ¹⁵ The labor of fools wearies him, because he does not know how to go to the city. ¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and your leaders eat in the morning. ¹⁷ Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your leaders eat in due time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! ¹⁸ By slothfulness the building decays; and through lowering of the hands the house leaks. ¹⁹ Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but silver answers all things. ²⁰ Do not curse a king, no, not in your thought; and do not curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.