Ecclesiastes 10 — ULB
10Verse 1As dead flies cause perfume to stink,so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.Verse 2The heart of a wise person tends to the right,but the heart of a fool tends to the left.Verse 3When a fool walks down a road,his thinking is deficient,proving to everyone he is a fool.Verse 4If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work.Calm can quiet down great outrage.Verse 5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun,a kind of error that comes from a ruler:Verse 6Fools are given leadership positions,while successful men are given low positions.Verse 7I have seen slaves riding horses,and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.Verse 8Anyone who digs a pitcan fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall,
a snake can bite him.Verse 9Whoever cuts out stonescan be hurt by them,and the man who chops woodis endangered by it.Verse 10If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
Verse 11If a snake bites before it is charmed,then there is no advantage for the charmer.Verse 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious,but the lips of a fool consume him.Verse 13As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out,and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.Verse 14A fool multiplies words,but no one knows what is coming.
Who knows what is coming after him?Verse 15The toil of fools wearies them,so that they do not even know the road to town.Verse 16Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy,and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!Verse 17But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles,and if your leaders eat at the right time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!Verse 18Because of laziness the roof sinks in,and because of idle hands the house leaks.Verse 19People prepare food for laughter,wine brings enjoyment to life,and money fills the need for everything.Verse 20Do not curse the king, not even in your mind,and do not curse rich people in your bedroom.For a bird of the sky might carry your words;whatever has wings can spread the matter.
a snake can bite him.Verse 9Whoever cuts out stonescan be hurt by them,and the man who chops woodis endangered by it.Verse 10If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
Verse 11If a snake bites before it is charmed,then there is no advantage for the charmer.Verse 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious,but the lips of a fool consume him.Verse 13As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out,and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.Verse 14A fool multiplies words,but no one knows what is coming.
Who knows what is coming after him?Verse 15The toil of fools wearies them,so that they do not even know the road to town.Verse 16Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy,and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!Verse 17But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles,and if your leaders eat at the right time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!Verse 18Because of laziness the roof sinks in,and because of idle hands the house leaks.Verse 19People prepare food for laughter,wine brings enjoyment to life,and money fills the need for everything.Verse 20Do not curse the king, not even in your mind,and do not curse rich people in your bedroom.For a bird of the sky might carry your words;whatever has wings can spread the matter.