{"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/wbt/ecclesiastes/10","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-30T00:24:11.929Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WBT","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 ointment of the apothecary to send forth an offensive odor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:"},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better."},{"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 is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?"},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because 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":"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!"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 10 (WBT)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 10](https://primebible.com/wbt/ecclesiastes/10)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WBT. https://primebible.com/wbt/ecclesiastes/10 (accessed 2026-05-30)."}}