View source for Koheles 10

== Koheles (Book of Ecclesiastes), Chapter 10 ==


<named id="1"/><sup>1</sup> Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour. 

<named id="2"/><sup>2</sup> A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left. 

<named id="3"/><sup>3</sup> Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.


<named id="4"/><sup>4</sup> If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences. 

<named id="5"/><sup>5</sup> There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler: 

<named id="6"/><sup>6</sup> Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place. 

<named id="7"/><sup>7</sup> I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 

<named id="8"/><sup>8</sup> He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him. 

<named id="9"/><sup>9</sup> Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby. 

<named id="10"/><sup>10</sup> If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct. 

<named id="11"/><sup>11</sup> If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.


<named id="12"/><sup>12</sup> The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 

<named id="13"/><sup>13</sup> The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness. 

<named id="14"/><sup>14</sup> A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him? 

<named id="15"/><sup>15</sup> The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.


<named id="16"/><sup>16</sup> Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning! 

<named id="17"/><sup>17</sup> Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness! 

<named id="18"/><sup>18</sup> By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. 

<named id="19"/><sup>19</sup> A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things. 

<named id="20"/><sup>20</sup> 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. 


== See also ==
* [[Koheles 9|Previous Chapter]]
* [[Koheles 10 Commentaries]]
* [[Koheles 11|Next Chapter]]

== References ==
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[[he:קוהלת י]]

[[1917 JPS Copyright|Portions &copy; 1997 by Benyamin Pilant. Portions &copy; 1998 by Larry Nelson.]]