Eclesiastés 10
Leeser Old Testament
1Dead flies cause the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honor.
2The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his left.
3Yea also, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.
8He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fencea serpent will bite him.
9Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.
10If the iron be blunt, and man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.
11If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue in charming no preference.
12The words of a wise mans mouth bring grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evilbringing madness.
14The fool also multiplieth words; but a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to be after him, who can tell him?
15The toil of the foolish will weary every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is lowminded, and when thy princes eat in the morning!
17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noblespirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!
18Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
19For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth all things.
20Even in thy thought thou must not curse a king; and in thy bedchambers do not curse the rich; for a bird of the air can carry the sound, and that which hath wings can tell the word.
Reina-Valera 1909
1LAS moscas muertas hacen heder y dar mal olor el perfume del perfumista: así una pequeña locura, al estimado por sabiduría y honra.
2El corazón del sabio está á su mano derecha; mas el corazón del necio á su mano izquierda.
3Y aun mientras va el necio por el camino, fáltale su cordura, y dice á todos, que es necio.
4Si el espíritu del príncipe se exaltare contra ti, no dejes tu lugar; porque la lenidad hará cesar grandes ofensas.
5Hay un mal que debajo del sol he visto, á manera de error emanado del príncipe:
6La necedad está colocada en grandes alturas, y los ricos están sentados en lugar bajo.
7Vi siervos en caballos, y príncipes que andaban como siervos sobre la tierra.
8El que hiciere el hoyo caerá en él; y el que aportillare el vallado, morderále la serpiente.
9El que mudare las piedras, trabajo tendrá en ellas: el que cortare la leña, en ella peligrará.
10Si se embotare el hierro, y su filo no fuere amolado, hay que añadir entonces más fuerza: empero excede la bondad de la sabiduría.
11Muerde la serpiente cuando no está encantada, y el lenguaraz no es mejor.
12Las palabras de la boca del sabio son gracia; mas los labios del necio causan su propia ruina.
13El principio de las palabras de su boca es necedad; y el fin de su charla nocivo desvarío.
14El necio multiplica palabras: no sabe hombre lo que ha de ser; ¿y quién le hará saber lo que después de él será?
15El trabajo de los necios los fatiga; porque no saben por dónde ir á la ciudad.
16¡Ay de ti, tierra, cuando tu rey es muchacho, y tus príncipes comen de mañana!
17¡Bienaventurada, tú, tierra, cuando tu rey es hijo de nobles, y tus príncipes comen á su hora, por refección, y no por el beber!
18Por la pereza se cae la techumbre, y por flojedad de manos se llueve la casa.
19Por el placer se hace el convite, y el vino alegra los vivos: y el dinero responde á todo.
20Ni aun en tu pensamiento digas mal del rey, ni en los secretos de tu cámara digas mal del rico; porque las aves del cielo llevarán la voz, y las que tienen alas harán saber la palabra.
King James Version
1Dead 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.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Yea 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.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17Blessed 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!
18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20Curse 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.
World English Bible
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.