Ecclesiastes 10:9-18

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.

¹⁴The fool also multiplieth words; but a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to be after him, who can tell him?

¹⁵The toil of the foolish will weary every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.—

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

¹⁷Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—

¹⁸Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.