ECCLESIASTES 9:13-10:20
9:13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
9:14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great 
king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
9:15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered 
the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
9:16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's 
wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
9:17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that 
ruleth among fools.
9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
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.
10:2 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.
10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for 
yielding pacifieth great offences.
10:5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which 
proceedeth from the ruler:
10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
10:7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the 
earth.
10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a 
serpent shall bite him.
10:9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood 
shall be endangered thereby.
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.
10:11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no 
better.
10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will 
swallow up himself.
10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of 
his talk is mischievous 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?
10:15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth 
not 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!
10:17 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!
10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the 
hands the house droppeth through.
10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth 
all things.
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.