10:1 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.
10:2 A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's
heart [is] at his left.
10:3 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.
10:4 If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not
thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses.
10:5 There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an
error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low
place.
10:7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as
servants upon the earth.
10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever
breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
10:9 Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; [and] he
that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it.
10:10 If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then
must he use more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to
direct.
10:11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a
babbler is no better.
10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious; but the
lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness:
and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.
10:14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall
be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
10:15 The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them,
because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
10:16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy
princes eat in the morning!
10:17 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!
10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through
idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but
money answereth all [things].
10:20 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.
|