Ecclesiastes

¹ Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth an offensive odor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

² A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left.

³ 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 If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses.

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

⁶ Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

⁷ I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

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 the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous 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?

¹⁵ The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

¹⁶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat 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!

¹⁸ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

¹⁹ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things .

²⁰ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.