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Ecclesiastes 10

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1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

2A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.

3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.

8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.

10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.

12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

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

14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.

16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

20Don't curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don't curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.

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Related Topics

Anger: Meekness Pacifies Ecclesiastes 10:4

If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

Apothecary: Ointment of Ecclesiastes 10:1

As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Citizens: Duties of Ecclesiastes 10:4, 20

If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest. / Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

Democracy Ecclesiastes 10:2

A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

Fence: Hedge Ecclesiastes 10:8

He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

Fool: General Scriptures Concerning Ecclesiastes 10:11–15

If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. / The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. / The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

Fools: Are: Full of Words Ecclesiastes 10:14

Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

Gluttony of Princes, Ruinous to Their People Ecclesiastes 10:16, 17

Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning. / Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

Idle Hands Ecclesiastes 10:18

Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

Insects: Fly Ecclesiastes 10:1

As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

King: Loyalty To, Enjoined Ecclesiastes 10:20

Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

Kings: Curse Not, Even in Thought Ecclesiastes 10:20

Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

Loyalty: Enjoined Ecclesiastes 10:4

If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

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