Ecclesiastes 10

¹Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

²The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

³Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.

⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:

⁶folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

⁷I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

⁸He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

⁹Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

¹⁰If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

¹¹If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

¹⁴And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?