Chapter 10
- 10:1
- Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking
savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
- 10:2
- A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
- 10:3
- 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.
- 10:4
- If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for
yielding pacifieth great offences.
- 10:5
- There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which
proceedeth from the ruler:
- 10:6
- Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
- 10:7
- I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the
earth.
- 10:8
- He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a
serpent shall bite him.
- 10:9
- Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood
shall be endangered thereby.
- 10:10
- 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.
- 10:11
- Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no
better.
- 10:12
- The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will
swallow up himself.
- 10:13
- The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his
talk is mischievous madness.
- 10:14
- A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what
shall be after him, who can tell him?
- 10:15
- The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth
not how to go to the city.
- 10:16
- Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the
morning!
- 10:17
- 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!
- 10:18
- By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the
hands the house droppeth through.
- 10:19
- A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth
all things.
- 10:20
- 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.