Ecclesiastes 10:3-14

English Standard Version

³Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he ^(A)says to everyone that he is a fool.
⁴If the anger of the ruler rises against you, ^(B)do not leave your place,
^(C)for calmness^[a] will lay great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were ^(D)an error proceeding from the ruler: ⁶^(E)folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷^(F)I have seen slaves ^(G)on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

⁸He who ^(H)digs a pit will fall into it,
    and ^(I)a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
⁹^(J)He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
    and he who ^(K)splits logs is endangered by them.
¹⁰If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
    he must use more strength,
    but wisdom helps one to succeed.^[b]
¹¹If the serpent bites before it is ^(L)charmed,
    there is no advantage to the charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth ^(M)win him favor,^[c]
    but ^(N)the lips of a fool consume him.
¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
    and the end of his talk is evil madness.
¹⁴^(O)A fool multiplies words,
    though no man knows what is to be,
    and who can tell him ^(P)what will be after him?