10:1 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.
10:1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

10:2 A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
10:2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, But a fool's heart at his left.

10:3 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.
10:3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.

10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

10:5 There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
10:5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler:

10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.

10:7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
10:7 I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.

10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
10:8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.

10:9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10:9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.

10:10 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.
10:10 If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

10:11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
10:11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.

10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;

10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.
10:13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.

10:14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
10:14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?

10:15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
10:15 The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

10:16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
10:16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning!

10:17 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!
10:17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time--For strength and not for drunkenness!

10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
10:18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].
10:19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

10:20 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.
10:20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.