Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 10

¹ Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

² A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool's heart toward the left.

³ Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to every one that he is a fool.

⁴ If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for deference will make amends for great offenses.

⁵ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:

⁶ folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.

⁷ I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on foot like slaves.

⁸ He who digs a pit will fall into it; and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.

⁹ He who quarries stones is hurt by them; and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps one to succeed.

¹¹ If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.

¹² The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness.

¹⁴ A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?

¹⁵ The toil of a fool wearies him, so that he does not know the way to the city.

¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!

¹⁷ Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of free men, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸ Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.

¹⁹ Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.

²⁰ Even in your thought, do not curse the king, nor in your bedchamber curse the rich; for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.