Ecclesiastes 10

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 bad. In the same way, a little foolishness spoils a person's wisdom and good name.

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

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

NoteIn this old way of speaking, the right side stood for what is good and helpful. The left side stood for the opposite.

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 just 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 your ruler gets angry at you, do not walk away from your job. Staying calm can settle big trouble.

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

5I have seen something bad here in this world. It is a mistake that rulers make.

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

6Foolish people are given the highest places. Rich people are left sitting down low.

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

7I have seen servants riding on horses. And I have seen princes walking on foot like servants.

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

8A person who digs a pit may fall into it. A person who 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.

9A person who digs out stones may get hurt by them. A person who splits logs may get hurt too.

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 axe is dull and nobody sharpens it, you must swing much harder. But skill helps you get the job done.

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

11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer gets nothing for his talk.

NoteA snake charmer was a person who used music to keep a snake calm. If the snake bit first, his skill did him no good.

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

12A wise person says kind words that help. But a fool's own words swallow him up.

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

13A fool starts out saying silly things. He ends up saying wild and mean things.

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

14A fool talks and talks. Yet no one knows what is coming. And 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. 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 sad for a land when its king is only a boy. Its leaders feast early 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 fine family. Its leaders eat at the right time. They eat to be strong, not to get drunk.

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

18When a person is lazy, the roof falls in. When hands do nothing, the house leaks.

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

19People make a feast so they can laugh. Wine makes them glad. And money is the answer for 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 say bad things about the king, not even in your thoughts. Do not say bad things about a rich person, even alone in your bedroom. A bird of the sky may carry your words away. Something with wings may tell what you said.