ECCLESIASTES
OR
THE PREACHER
Ecclesiastes 10 ©
Solomon recommends wisdom to every man, and warns everyone to beware of folly, v. 1, etc. And he instructs how men should behave themselves in the presence of the king, when he is offended, 4. Although it often falls out that wicked men are advanced to honor by the king, and the godly despised, 5. Then he speaks of the imprudence of some men, 8. And he teaches again, how profitable that wisdom is, and how hurtful that folly is, 10, etc. Especially in a prince, 16, etc. Who may not be cursed, 20.
DEAD1 flies cause 2the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: 3so doth a little folly him that is in reputation 4for wisdom and honour.
5A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart 6at his left.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, 7his wisdom faileth him, and 8he saith 9to every one that he is a fool.
If 10the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not 11thy place; for 12yielding 13pacifieth great offences.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an 14error which 15proceedeth from the ruler:
16Folly is set 17in great dignity, and 18the rich sit 19in low place.
I have seen 20servants upon horses, and 21princes walking as servants 22upon the earth.
He 23thata diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, 24a serpent shall bite him.
Whoso 25removeth 26stones 27shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be 28endangered thereby.
If 29the iron be blunt, and he do not whet 30the edge, 31then must 32he putb to more strength: 33but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Surely the serpent will bite 34without enchantment; 35and a babbler is no better.36
The words of a wise man’s mouth 37are gracious; but the lips of a fool will 38swallow up himself.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end 39of his talk 40is mischievous madness.
41A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and 42what shall be after him, who can tell him?
The labour of the foolish wearieth 43every one of them, 44because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
¶Woec to thee, O 45land, when thy king is 46a child, and thy 47princesd48eat 49in the morning!
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is 50the son of nobles, and thy princes eat 51in due season, 52for strength, and not for drunkenness!
¶By 53much slothfulness the building 54decayeth; and 55through idleness of the hands the house 56droppeth through.
¶ 57A 58feast is made for 59laughter, and wine 60maketh merry: but 61money answereth all things.
¶Cursee not the king, no not 62in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: 63for a bird of the air shall 64carry the voice, and that which hath 65wings shall 66tell 67the matter.