Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:3

English Standard Version

¹³I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. ¹⁴There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. ¹⁵But there was found in it ^(A)a poor, wise man, and he by his ^(B)wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶But I say that ^(C)wisdom is better than might, though ^(D)the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

¹⁷The words of the wise heard in ^(E)quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. ¹⁸^(F)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but ^(G)one sinner destroys much good.

10 Dead flies make ^(H)the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
²^(I)A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
    but a fool's heart to the left.
³Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
    and he ^(J)says to everyone that he is a fool.