1Dead flies make gthe perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2hA wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool's heart to the left.
3Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he isays to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, jdo not leave your place,
kfor calmness1 will lay great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were lan error proceeding from the ruler: 6mfolly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7nI have seen slaves oon horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8He who pdigs a pit will fall into it,
and qa serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9rHe who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who ssplits logs is endangered by them.
10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.2
11If the serpent bites before it is tcharmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
12The words of a wise man's mouth uwin him favor,3
but vthe lips of a fool consume him.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14wA fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him xwhat will be after him?
15The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know ythe way to the city.
16zWoe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for adrunkenness!
18Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19Bread is made for laughter,
and bwine gladdens life,
and cmoney answers everything.
20Even in your thoughts, ddo not curse the king,
nor in your ebedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
The Prophesied Kingdom — Part One
Ezra 1:1 – Malachi 4:6 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 36:31 • ID: 2390The Prophesied Kingdom — Part Two
Ezra 1:1 – Malachi 4:6 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 43:38 • ID: 2391Dead Flies and Little Birds
Ecclesiastes 10:1–20 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 41:33 • ID: 2300Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.