Old Testament · Poetry and wisdom

Ecclesiastes chapter 10

Dead flies make a stink and bubble over — so a little outweighs and honor.A wise person’s leads them , but a fool’s heart leads them astray.Even walking down the road, the fool has — and broadcasts to everyone that he is a fool.If a ’s anger flares up against you, don’t abandon your post — can defuse even major offenses.There is a problem I’ve seen — the kind of mistake that comes from : are put in high positions while the sit in lowly ones.I’ve seen riding on horses while walk on foot like servants.Whoever digs a may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may get bitten by a .Whoever may be injured by them; whoever splits logs is endangered by them.If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, you have to use more force — but gives you the from the start.If the snake bites before the can work, there’s no profit in being a charmer.Words from a wise person’s mouth win , but a fool’s own lips consume him.A fool’s talk starts with and ends in .A fool — yet no one knows what is coming. Who can tell anyone what will happen after them?A fool’s exhausts him — he can’t even find his way to town.What for you, land, when your king is a and your leaders !But , land, when your king is of and your leaders eat at the proper time — for , not for indulgence!Through the sag; through idle hands the house leaks.A meal is made for , and makes life enjoyable — but is the answer for everything.Don’t the king even in your , and don’t curse the powerful even in your bedroom — because , and something with wings may report what you said.