Ecclesiastes or, the Preacher 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