1890 Darby's Translation of the Holy Scriptures (DBY)

Ecclesiastes 10

1 Observations of wisdom and folly. 16 Of riot, 18 slothfulness, 19 and money. 20 Men's thoughts of kings ought to be reverent.

 10:1 ¶ Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

 10:2 The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

 10:3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.

 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.

 10:5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:

 10:6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

 10:7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

 10:8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

 10:9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

 10:10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

 10:11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

 10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.

 10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

 10:14 And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?

 10:15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.

 10:16 ¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

 10:17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

 10:18 ¶ By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

 10:19 ¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.

 10:20 ¶ Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.