{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/asv/ecclesiastes/10","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T22:39:09.660Z"},"reference":{"translation":"ASV","book":"Ecclesiastes","bookSlug":"ecclesiastes","chapter":10,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":9,"nextChapter":11,"totalChapters":12,"totalVerses":20},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor;'so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:"},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?"},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!"},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"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!"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 10 (ASV)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 10](https://primebible.com/asv/ecclesiastes/10)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* ASV. https://primebible.com/asv/ecclesiastes/10 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}