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Ecclesiastes

Assorted Proverbs on Wisdom, Folly, and Disorder

Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20
13I also saw this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me. 14There was a small city and few men in it, and a great king came to it and surrounded it and built great siegeworks upon it. 15A poor wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, yet no man remembered that poor man. 16And I said, "Wisdom is better than might, yet the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heard." 17The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the outcry of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of battle, yet one sinner destroys much welfare.
Chapter 10
1Dead flies make the perfumer's oil stink and bubble; a little folly outweighs wisdom and glory. 2The heart of the wise is to his right, and the heart of the fool to his left. 3Moreover, as the fool walks along the way, his heart lacks, and he says to all, He is a fool. 4If the spirit of the ruler rises upon you, do not leave your place, for healing quiets great sins. 5There is a distress I have seen under the sun, like an unintentional error that comes out from before the domineering one. 6Folly is set in many high places, while the rich sit in low estate. 7I saw servants upon horses and rulers walking like servants upon the land. 8Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 9Whoever sets out stones may be hurt by them, and whoever splits wood may be endangered by them. 10If the iron is blunt and he does not sharpen the edge, then he must prevail with strength, yet the advantage of success is wisdom. 11If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage for the master of the tongue. 12The words of a wise man's mouth win favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his mouth is wicked madness. 14The fool multiplies words, though the man does not know what will be and what will be after him—who will tell him? 15The toil of fools wearies him, for he does not know the way to a city. 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a youth and your rulers eat in the morning. 17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is a son of nobles and your rulers eat at the proper time, in might and not in drunkenness. 18Through sloth the rafter sinks in, and through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and silver answers everything. 20Also in your knowledge do not curse a king, and in your bed-chambers do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the voice and a master of wings will tell the word.
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