Ecclesiastes 10:4-13

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.

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

⁶Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.

⁷I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—

⁸He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.

⁹Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.

¹⁰If the iron be blunt, and man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.

¹¹If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue in charming no preference.—

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth bring grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing madness.