Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 10

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!	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.
2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.	2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.	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.
4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.	4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:	5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.	6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.	7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.	8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.	9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
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.	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.
11 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.	11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.	12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;	13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him?	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?
15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?	15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!	16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
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).	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!
18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.	18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.	19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
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.	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.