1833 Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB)

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 send forth an offensive odor: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honor.

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

 10:3 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.

 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses.

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

 10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in 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 shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

 10:9 Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it.

 10:10 If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.

 10:11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

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

 10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.

 10:14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

 10:15 The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth 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 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!

 10:18 ¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

 10:19 ¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].

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