Ecclesiastes 10
The Excellence of
Wisdom |
1 |
Dead flies cause the ointment of the
apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little
folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
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2 |
A wise man's heart is at his right
hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
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3 |
Yea 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.
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4 |
If the spirit of the ruler rise up
against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great
offenses.
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5 |
There is an evil which I have
seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the
ruler:
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6 |
folly is set in great dignity, and the
rich sit in low place.
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7 |
I have seen servants upon horses, and
princes walking as servants upon the earth.
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8 |
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it;
and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
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9 |
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt
therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered
thereby.
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10 |
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet
the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
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11 |
Surely the serpent will bite without
enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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12 |
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up
himself.
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13 |
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous
madness.
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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?
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15 |
The labor of the foolish wearieth every
one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
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16 |
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
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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!
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18 |
By much slothfulness the building
decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth
through.
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19 |
A feast is made for laughter, and wine
maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
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20 |
Curse not the king, no not in thy
thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the
air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the
matter.
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