Ecclesiastes 10

1Dead flies turn the perfumer’s ointment fetid and putrid; so a little folly outweighs massive wisdom.

2A sage’s mind tends toward the right hand, a fool’s toward the left.

3The mind of a fool is wanting also when traveling—which lets everybody know who is a fool.

4If the wrath of a lord flares up against you, don’t give up your post; for when wrath abates, grave offenses are pardoned. “to remit,” cf. Abodah Zarah 13a; cf. hanaḥah “remission of taxes,” Esth. 2.18.

5Here is an evil I have seen under the sun as great as an error committed by a ruler:

6Folly was placed on lofty heights, while the rich sat in low estate.

7I have seen slaves on horseback, and nobles walking on the ground like slaves.

8One who digs a pit will fall into it; one who breaches a stone fence will be bitten by a snake.

9One who quarries stones will be hurt by them; one who splits wood will be harmed by it.

10If the ax has become dull and the edge has not been whetted, then more strength must be exerted. Thus the advantage of a skill [depends on the exercise of] prudence.

11If the snake bites because no spell was uttered, no advantage is gained by the trained charmer.

12Sages’ talk brings them favor, but fools’ lips are their undoing.

13Their talk begins as silliness and ends as disastrous madness.

14Yet fools talk and talk! Humans cannot know what will happen; who can tell them what the future holds?

15The exertions of fools tire them out, for they don’t know how to get to a town.

16Alas for you, O land whose king is a lackey and whose ministers dine in the morning!

17Happy are you, O land whose king is a master and whose ministers dine at the proper time—with restraint, not with guzzling!

18Through slothfulness the ceiling sags,Through lazy hands the house caves in.

19They make a banquet for revelry; wine makes life merry, and money answers every need.

20Don’t revile a king even among your intimates. Don’t revile someone who is rich even in your bedchamber;For a bird of the air may carry the utterance,And a winged creature may report the word.