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Ecclesiastes 10

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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¹ Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink; ⓗ so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

² A wise person’s heart goes to the [1] right, but a fool’s heart to the left.

³ Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool. ⓘ

⁴ If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your post, ⓙ for calmness puts great offenses to rest. ⓚ

⁵ There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:

⁶ The fool is appointed to great heights, ⓛ but the rich remain in lowly positions.

⁷ I have seen slaves on horses, ⓜ but princes walking on the ground like slaves. ⓝ

⁸ The one who digs a pit may fall into it, ⓐ and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. ⓑ

⁹ The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

¹⁰ If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, ⓒ then there is no advantage for the charmer. [2]

¹² The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, ⓓ but the lips of a fool consume him. ⓔ

¹³ The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness;

¹⁴ yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? ⓕ

¹⁵ The struggles of fools weary them, for they don’t know how to go to the city.

¹⁶ Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth ⓖ and your princes feast in the morning.

¹⁷ Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time — for strength and not for drunkenness. ⓗ

¹⁸ Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.

¹⁹ A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, ⓘ and money [3] is the answer for everything. ⓙ

²⁰ Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, ⓚ and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, ⓛ for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter.

#	CSB
1	Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink; ⓗ so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2	A wise person’s heart goes to the [1] right, but a fool’s heart to the left.
3	Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool. ⓘ
4	If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your post, ⓙ for calmness puts great offenses to rest. ⓚ
5	There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
6	The fool is appointed to great heights, ⓛ but the rich remain in lowly positions.
7	I have seen slaves on horses, ⓜ but princes walking on the ground like slaves. ⓝ
8	The one who digs a pit may fall into it, ⓐ and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. ⓑ
9	The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10	If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
11	If the snake bites before it is charmed, ⓒ then there is no advantage for the charmer. [2]
12	The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, ⓓ but the lips of a fool consume him. ⓔ
13	The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness;
14	yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? ⓕ
15	The struggles of fools weary them, for they don’t know how to go to the city.
16	Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth ⓖ and your princes feast in the morning.
17	Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time — for strength and not for drunkenness. ⓗ
18	Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
19	A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, ⓘ and money [3] is the answer for everything. ⓙ
20	Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, ⓚ and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, ⓛ for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter.

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Ecclesiastes 10

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