Ecclesiastes 10:8-15

New American Standard Bible

^8 (A)One who digs a pit may fall into it, and a ^(B)serpent may bite one who breaks through a wall. ⁹ One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them. ¹⁰ If the ^[a]axe is dull and he does not sharpen its ^[b]edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success. ¹¹ If the serpent bites ^[c](C)before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer. ^12 (D)Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a ^(E)fool consume him; ¹³ the beginning of ^[d]his talking is foolishness, and the end of ^[e]it is evil ^(F)insanity. ¹⁴ Yet the ^(G)fool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him ^(H)what will come after him? ¹⁵ The labor of ^[f]a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city.