Ecclesiastes 10:1-13

¹Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.

²A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.

³Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.

⁵There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:

⁶Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.

⁷I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

⁸He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

¹⁰If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.