Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 10

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 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.	1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.	2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.
3 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.	3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.	4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:	5 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.	6 a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.	7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.	8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.	9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.
10 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.	10 If the iron becomes dull, though at first he made easy progress, he must increase his efforts; but the craftsman has the advantage of his skill.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.	11 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.	12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.	13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?	14 yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.	15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!	16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!
17 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!	17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth, and whose princes dine at the right time (for vigor and not in drinking bouts).
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.	18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.	19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.
20 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.	20 Even in your thoughts do not make light of the king, nor in the privacy of your bedroom revile the rich. Because the birds of the air may carry your voice, a winged creature may tell what you say.