전도서 10

A little folly

¹Dead flies make the perfumer’s oil stink and go bad; \q so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. ²The heart of the wise leans to the right, \q the heart of a fool to the left. ³Even when fools walk along the road, they lack sense, \q and they show everyone that they are fools.^{a 4}If the ruler’s anger rises against you, \q do not leave your post, \q for calmness can lay great offenses to rest. ⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the kind of error that comes from a ruler: ⁶Folly is set in many high positions, while the rich sit in lowly places. ⁷I have seen slaves on horseback, while officials go on foot like slaves. ⁸Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, \q and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.^{b 9}Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them, \q and whoever splits logs is put in danger by them. ¹⁰If the ax is blunt and its edge is not sharpened, \q more strength must be used; \q but wisdom brings the gain of success.^{c 11}If the snake bites before it is charmed, \q there is no gain in being a charmer. ¹²The words of a wise person’s mouth win favor, \q but fools are swallowed up by their own lips. ¹³The words of their mouths begin with folly, \q and their talk ends in harmful madness. ¹⁴A fool keeps on talking, \q though no one knows what is to come, \q and who can tell anyone what will happen after them? ¹⁵The hard work of fools wears them out, \q for they do not even know the way to town. ¹⁶Woe to you, land, when your king is a boy \q and your officials feast in the morning!^{d 17}How blessed you are, land, when your king is of noble birth, \q and your officials eat at the proper time, \q to gain strength and not to get drunk. ¹⁸Through laziness the roof beams sag, \q and through idle hands the house leaks. ¹⁹Feasts are made for laughter, \q and wine makes life merry, \q and money answers every need.^{e 20}Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, \q nor the rich even where you sleep, \q for a bird in the sky may carry off your words, \q and a winged creature may report what you said.