Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 ICB

[1] Dead flies will make even perfume smell bad. In the same way, a little foolishness can ruin a wise man's fame for wisdom. [2] A wise man's heart leads him in the right way. But the heart of a foolish person leads him in the wrong way. [3] A foolish person is not wise. It shows in everything he does. Even as he walks along the road, he shows everyone how stupid he is. [4] Don't leave your job just because the ruler is angry with you. Remain calm. It will help correct your mistakes. [5] Here is something else unfair that happens here on earth. It is the kind of mistake rulers make: [6] Foolish people are given important positions while rich people are given less important ones. [7] I have seen servants ride on horses while princes walk beside them on foot. [8] Anyone who digs a pit might fall into it. Anyone who knocks down a wall might be bitten by a snake. [9] Anyone who moves large stones might be hurt by them. And anyone who cuts logs might get hurt while doing it. [10] Cutting logs with a dull ax makes you work harder. A wise man will sharpen his ax. In the same way, wisdom can make any job easier. [11] Someone might know how to control snakes. But what good is such wisdom if the snake has already bitten him? [12] A wise man's words bring him praise. But a foolish person's words will destroy him. [13] A foolish person begins by saying something foolish. In the end he is saying even crazier things. [14] A foolish person talks too much about what he will do. No one knows the future. No one can tell him what will happen after he dies. [15] A foolish person doesn't know even the most obvious things. He can't even find his way back to town. So he has to wear himself out working. [16] How terrible it will be for a country if its king is a child. How terrible it will be for that country if its leaders have parties all the time. [17] A country is well off if its king comes from a good family. It is good for a country if its leaders control their eating and drinking. They should eat and drink for strength, not to get drunk. [18] If a person is lazy and doesn't repair the roof, it will begin to fall. If he refuses to fix it, the house will leak. [19] A party makes you feel good. And wine makes you feel happy. But both cost you a lot of money. [20] Don't say or think bad things about the king. And don't say bad things about rich people even alone in your bedroom. A little bird might report it to others. A bird might fly to them and tell all you said.