Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20

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.
⁴If the anger of the ruler rises against you, ^(K)do not leave your place,
    ^(L)for calmness^[a] will lay great offenses to rest.

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

⁸He who ^(Q)digs a pit will fall into it,
    and ^(R)a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
⁹^(S)He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
    and he who ^(T)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 ^(U)charmed,
    there is no advantage to the charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth ^(V)win him favor,^[c]
    but ^(W)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^(X)A fool multiplies words,
    though no man knows what is to be,
    and who can tell him ^(Y)what will be after him?
¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him,
    for he does not know ^(Z)the way to the city.

¹⁶^(AA)Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
    and your princes feast in the morning!
¹⁷Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
    and your princes feast at the proper time,
    for strength, and not for ^(AB)drunkenness!
¹⁸Through sloth the roof sinks in,
    and through indolence the house leaks.
¹⁹Bread is made for laughter,
    and ^(AC)wine gladdens life,
    and ^(AD)money answers everything.
²⁰Even in your thoughts, ^(AE)do not curse the king,
    nor in your ^(AF)bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
    or some winged creature tell the matter.