Ecclesiastes 10

Wisdom and Folly

¹As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

• ECC 10:1[NOTE]DEAD FLIES. A little bit of foolishness can ruin a good name, the way dead flies make perfume stink.

²A wise man’s heart inclines to the right,

but the heart of a fool to the left.

³Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking,

and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

⁴If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post,

for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun—

an error that proceeds from the ruler:

⁶Folly is appointed to great heights,

but the rich sit in lowly positions.

⁷I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.

⁸He who digs a pit may fall into it,

and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹The one who quarries stones may be injured by them,

and he who splits logs endangers himself.

¹⁰If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened,

more strength must be exerted,

but skill produces success.

¹¹If the snake bites before it is charmed,

there is no profit for the charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,

but the lips of a fool consume him.

¹³The beginning of his talk is folly,

and the end of his speech is evil madness.

¹⁴Yet the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what is coming,

and who can tell him what will come after him?

¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him,

for he does not know the way to the city.

¹⁶Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth,

and whose princes feast in the morning.

¹⁷Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles,

and whose princes feast at the proper time—

for strength and not for drunkenness.

¹⁸Through laziness the roof caves in,

and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

¹⁹A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry,

but money is the answer for everything.

²⁰Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich even in your bedroom,

for a bird of the air may carry your words,

and a winged creature may report your speech.

• ECC 10:20[NOTE]A LITTLE BIRD. The saying A little bird told me may come from this verse. The point: what you say in private can get out.