Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 (Index)

001  Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

002  A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

003  Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

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

005  There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

006  Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

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

008  He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

009  Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

010  If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

011  Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

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

013  The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

014  A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

015  The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

016  Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

017  Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

018  By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

019  A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

020  Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.