Ecclesiastes

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

1Dead flies make a perfume maker's oil smell rotten. In the same way, a little folly ruins a person known for wisdom and honor.

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

2A wise person's heart leans to the right. A fool's heart leans to the left.

NoteIn older speech, the right hand stood for skill and steadiness, and the left for clumsiness. The verse is not about politics.

3Yea 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.

3Even when a fool is only walking down the road, he has no sense. He shows everyone that he is a fool.

4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

4If a ruler gets angry at you, do not walk away from your post. Staying calm can settle even great offenses.

Note"Leave not thy place" means do not quit your post or job. "Yielding" here means keeping calm, not giving in.

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

5I have seen something wrong here under the sun. It is a mistake that comes from a ruler:

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

6Foolish people are placed in high positions, while rich people sit in low ones.

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

7I have seen servants riding on horses, while princes walked on foot like servants.

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

8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it. Whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

9Whoever cuts stone out of a quarry may be hurt by it. Whoever splits logs puts himself in danger.

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

10If the ax is dull and no one sharpens the edge, you must swing harder. But skill and wisdom bring success.

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

11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer gains nothing. A person who talks and talks is no better.

NoteThis pictures a snake charmer, someone paid to control snakes with music. If the snake bites first, the charmer has earned nothing.

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

12The words of a wise person win kindness. But a fool's own lips swallow him up.

13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

13He begins by talking nonsense, and by the end his talk is wicked and wild.

14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

14Still the fool piles up more words. No one knows what is coming. Who can tell him what will happen after he is gone?

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

15A fool's work wears him out, because he does not even know the way to town.

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

16It is bad for a land when its king is only a boy, and its leaders feast in the morning.

17Blessed 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!

17It is good for a land when its king comes from a noble family. Its leaders eat at the right time, for strength, not to get drunk.

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

18When people are lazy, the roof sags. When hands do nothing, the house leaks.

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

19A feast is made for laughing, and wine makes people glad, but money answers everything.

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

20Do not curse the king, not even in your thoughts. Do not curse a rich man, even in your own bedroom. A bird may carry your words, and something with wings may report what you said.