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Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 — Wisdom and Folly
Eccl.10.1-20
1Dead flies make the perfumer's oil stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2A wise person's heart turns to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. 3Even when the fool walks along the road, he lacks sense, and he shows everyone that he is a fool. 4If the ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness quiets great offenses. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error that comes from the ruler: 6Folly is set in many high places, while the rich sit in low places. 7I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9Whoever quarries stones may be hurt by them, and whoever splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the iron is dull and one has not sharpened its edge, then more strength must be used; but wisdom gives the advantage of success. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage for the snake charmer . 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool swallow him up. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will be, and who can tell him what will come after him? 15The toil of fools wearies them, for they do not even 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 of noble birth, and whose princes eat at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. 18Through laziness the roof sags, and through idle hands the house leaks. 19Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. 20Even in your mind do not curse the king, and in the inner room of your bedchamber do not curse the rich, for a bird of the air may carry the sound, and a winged creature may tell the matter.
Translation Notes
4/11/2026
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