Ecclesiastes 10
Book: Ecclesiastes
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
3 Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN—EVEN TO PROFESSIONALS
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
HARD WORK AND SKILL ALONE CANNOT SUCCEED—WISDOM IS NECESSARY
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF FOOLISHNESS
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
17 Happy 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!