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