10:1 Dead flies turn a perfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more ①potent than wisdom and honor.
▷ ①Lit costly
10:2 A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart directs him toward the left.
10:3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his ①sense is lacking, and he ②demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
▷ ①Lit heart ②Lit says
10:4 If the ruler’s ①temper rises against you, do not abandon your place, because composure puts great offenses to rest.
▷ ①Lit spirit
10:5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
10:6 foolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places.
10:7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
10:8 One who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite one who breaks through a wall.
10:9 One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10:10 If the ①axe is dull and he does not sharpen its ②edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success.
▷ ①Lit iron ②Lit faces
10:11 If the serpent bites ①before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer.
▷ ①Lit with no incantation
10:12 Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
10:13 the beginning of ①his talking is foolishness, and the end of ②it is evil insanity.
▷ ①Lit the words of his mouth ②Lit his mouth
10:14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
10:15 The labor of ①a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city.
▷ ①Lit fools make
10:16 Woe to you, land whose king is a boy, and whose princes ①feast in the morning.
▷ ①Lit eat
10:17 Blessed are you, land whose king is of nobility, and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
10:18 Through extreme laziness the rafters sag, and through idleness the house leaks.
10:19 People prepare a meal for enjoyment, wine makes life joyful, and money ①is the answer to everything.
▷ ①Lit answers all
10:20 Furthermore, in your bedroom do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich person; for a bird of the sky will bring the sound, and the winged one will make your word known.
▷ ①Lit costly
10:2 A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart directs him toward the left.
10:3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his ①sense is lacking, and he ②demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
▷ ①Lit heart ②Lit says
10:4 If the ruler’s ①temper rises against you, do not abandon your place, because composure puts great offenses to rest.
▷ ①Lit spirit
10:5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
10:6 foolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places.
10:7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
10:8 One who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite one who breaks through a wall.
10:9 One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10:10 If the ①axe is dull and he does not sharpen its ②edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success.
▷ ①Lit iron ②Lit faces
10:11 If the serpent bites ①before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer.
▷ ①Lit with no incantation
10:12 Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
10:13 the beginning of ①his talking is foolishness, and the end of ②it is evil insanity.
▷ ①Lit the words of his mouth ②Lit his mouth
10:14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
10:15 The labor of ①a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city.
▷ ①Lit fools make
10:16 Woe to you, land whose king is a boy, and whose princes ①feast in the morning.
▷ ①Lit eat
10:17 Blessed are you, land whose king is of nobility, and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
10:18 Through extreme laziness the rafters sag, and through idleness the house leaks.
10:19 People prepare a meal for enjoyment, wine makes life joyful, and money ①is the answer to everything.
▷ ①Lit answers all
10:20 Furthermore, in your bedroom do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich person; for a bird of the sky will bring the sound, and the winged one will make your word known.