Ecclesiastes 10 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

A Little Foolishness

1Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor.

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

3Even when a fool walks along the road, his sense and good judgment fail him and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

4If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, because composure and calmness prevent great offenses.

5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler—

6folly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places.

7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the ground.

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

9He who quarries stones may be hurt with them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom helps him succeed.

11If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer.

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him;

13the beginning of his talking is foolishness and the end of his talk is wicked madness.

14Yet the fool multiplies words, though no man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after he is gone?

15The labor of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

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

17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is a man of noble birth, and your princes and officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

18Through laziness the rafters decay and the roof sags, and through idleness the house leaks.

19The officials make a feast for enjoyment, and serve wine to make life merry, and money is the answer to everything.

20Moreover, do not curse the king, even in your bedroom, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry the sound and a winged creature will make the matter known.