Ecclesiastes 10:5-10

New American Standard Bible 1995

⁵ There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler— ^6 (A)folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. ⁷ I have seen ^(B)slaves riding ^(C)on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

^8 (D)He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a ^(E)serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. ⁹ He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. ¹⁰ If the ^[a]axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must ^[b]exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.