| The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000. | | Ecclesiastes | | OR, THE PREACHER |
| 10 |
The Excellence of Wisdom |
| 1 |
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
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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 offenses.
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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 a 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 labor 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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