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Ecclesiastes, Chapter 10
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1 |
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a
stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for
wisdom and honour.
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2 |
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at
his left.
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3 |
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom
faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
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4 |
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy
place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
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5 |
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error
which proceedeth from the ruler:
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6 |
Folly is set in great dignity,
and the rich sit in low place.
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7 |
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants
upon the earth.
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8 |
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an
hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
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9 |
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that
cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
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10 |
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he
put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
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11 |
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler
is no better.
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12 |
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a
fool will swallow up himself.
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13 |
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the
end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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14 |
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be;
and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
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15 |
The labour of
the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to
go to the city.
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16 |
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes
eat in the morning!
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17 |
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is
the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength,
and not for drunkenness!
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18 |
By much slothfulness the building
decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth
through.
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19 |
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money
answereth all things.
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20 |
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the
rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice,
and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
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