{"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/ylt/ecclesiastes/10","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-27T02:11:16.332Z"},"reference":{"translation":"YLT","book":"Ecclesiastes","bookSlug":"ecclesiastes","chapter":10,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":9,"nextChapter":11,"totalChapters":12,"totalVerses":20},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly!"},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"The heart of the wise is at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, 'He is a fool.'"},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,"},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom is advantageous to make right."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"Words of the mouth of the wise are gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, And the latter end of his mouth Is mischievous madness."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"And the fool multiplieth words: 'Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'"},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"Happy art thou, O land, When thy king is a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 10 (YLT)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 10](https://primebible.com/ylt/ecclesiastes/10)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* YLT. https://primebible.com/ylt/ecclesiastes/10 (accessed 2026-05-27)."}}