Ecclesiastes 10:4-17

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

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

⁶folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

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

⁸He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

⁹Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

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

¹¹If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

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

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

¹⁴And the fool multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?

¹⁵The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.

¹⁶Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

¹⁷Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!