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Miscellaneous Observations

10Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odour;
   so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.
² The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
   but the heart of a fool to the left.
³ Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense,
   and show to everyone that they are fools.
⁴ If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post,
   for calmness will undo great offences.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler: ⁶folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.
⁸ Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
   and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
⁹ Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them;
   and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge,
   then more strength must be exerted;
   but wisdom helps one to succeed.
¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed,
   there is no advantage in a charmer.

¹² Words spoken by the wise bring them favour,
   but the lips of fools consume them.
¹³ The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,
   and their talk ends in wicked madness;
¹⁴ yet fools talk on and on.
   No one knows what is to happen,
   and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
¹⁵ The toil of fools wears them out,
   for they do not even know the way to town.

¹⁶ Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant,^*
   and your princes feast in the morning!
¹⁷ Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman,
   and your princes feast at the proper time—
   for strength, and not for drunkenness!
¹⁸ Through sloth the roof sinks in,
   and through indolence the house leaks.
¹⁹ Feasts are made for laughter;
   wine gladdens life,
   and money meets every need.
²⁰ Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts,
   or curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
for a bird of the air may carry your voice,
   or some winged creature tell the matter.

The Value of Diligence

11Send out your bread upon the waters,
   for after many days you will get it back.
² Divide your means seven ways, or even eight,
   for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.
³ When clouds are full,
   they empty rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
   in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
⁴ Whoever observes the wind will not sow;
   and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.

5 Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.

6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Youth and Old Age

7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

8 Even those who live for many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement.

10 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.