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Ecclesiastes 10 (AMP)

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¹ DEAD FLIES cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. ² A wise man's heart turns him toward his right hand, but a fool's heart toward his left. ³ Even when he who is a fool walks along the road, his heart and understanding fail him, and he says of everyone and to everyone that he is a fool. ⁴ If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place ; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses. ⁵ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler: ⁶ Folly is set in great dignity and in high places, and the rich sit in low places. ⁷ I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking like slaves on the earth. ⁸ He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a fence or a wall, a serpent will bite him. ⁹ Whoever removes stones or hews out will be hurt with them, and he who fells trees will be endangered by them. ¹⁰ If the ax is dull and the man does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps him to succeed. ¹¹ If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then it is no use to call a charmer . ¹² The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. ¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness. ¹⁴ A fool also multiplies words, though no man can tell what will be--and what will happen after he is gone, who can tell him? ¹⁵ The labor of fools wearies every one of them, because he does not even know how to get to town. ¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child or a servant and when your officials feast in the morning! ¹⁷ Happy (fortunate and to be envied) are you, O land, when your king is a free man and of noble birth and character and when your officials feast at the proper time--for strength and not for drunkenness! ¹⁸ Through indolence the rafters decay and the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks. ¹⁹ make a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and money to answer for all of it. ²⁰ Curse not the king, no, not even in your thoughts, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber, for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and a winged creature will tell the matter.