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Ecclesiastes

Chapter 10

1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
מָ֔וֶת
mā·weṯ
As dead
זְב֣וּבֵי
zə·ḇū·ḇê
flies
יַבִּ֖יעַ
yab·bî·a‘
bring
יַבְאִ֥ישׁ
yaḇ·’îš
a stench
רוֹקֵ֑חַ
rō·w·qê·aḥ
to the perfumer’s
שֶׁ֣מֶן
še·men
oil ,
מְעָֽט׃
mə·‘āṭ
so a little
סִכְל֥וּת
siḵ·lūṯ
folly
יָקָ֛ר
yā·qār
outweighs
מֵחָכְמָ֥ה
mê·ḥā·ḵə·māh
wisdom
מִכָּב֖וֹד
mik·kā·ḇō·wḏ
and honor .
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
חָכָם֙
ḥā·ḵām
A wise man’s
לֵ֤ב
lêḇ
heart
לִֽימִינ֔וֹ
lî·mî·nōw
inclines to the right ,
וְלֵ֥ב
wə·lêḇ
but the heart
כְּסִ֖יל
kə·sîl
of a fool
לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃
liś·mō·lōw
to the left .
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
וְגַם־
wə·ḡam-
Even
כְּשֶׁהַסָּכָל
kə·šɛ·has·så̄·ḵå̄l
as the fool
הֹלֵ֖ךְ
hō·lêḵ
walks
בַּדֶּ֛רֶךְ
bad·de·reḵ
along the road ,
לִבּ֣וֹ
lib·bōw
his sense
חָסֵ֑ר
ḥā·sêr
is lacking ,
וְאָמַ֥ר
wə·’ā·mar
and he shows
לַכֹּ֖ל
lak·kōl
everyone
הֽוּא׃

that he
סָכָ֥ל
sā·ḵāl
is a fool .
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
אִם־
’im-
If
הַמּוֹשֵׁל֙
ham·mō·wō·šêl
the ruler’s
ר֤וּחַ
rū·aḥ
temper
תַּעֲלֶ֣ה
ta·‘ă·leh
flares
עָלֶ֔יךָ
‘ā·le·ḵā
against you ,
אַל־
’al-
do not
תַּנַּ֑ח
tan·naḥ
abandon
מְקוֹמְךָ֖
mə·qō·wm·ḵā
your post ,
כִּ֣י

for
מַרְפֵּ֔א
mar·pê
calmness
גְּדוֹלִֽים׃
gə·ḏō·w·lîm
{lays} great
חֲטָאִ֥ים
ḥă·ṭā·’îm
offenses
יַנִּ֖יחַ
yan·nî·aḥ
to rest .
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
יֵ֣שׁ
yêš
There is
רָעָ֔ה
rā·‘āh
an evil
רָאִ֖יתִי
rā·’î·ṯî
I have seen
תַּ֣חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
haš·šā·meš
the sun —
כִּשְׁגָגָ֕ה
kiš·ḡā·ḡāh
an error
שֶׁיֹּצָ֖א
še·yō·ṣā
that proceeds
מִלִּפְנֵ֥י
mil·lip̄·nê
from
הַשַּׁלִּֽיט׃
haš·šal·lîṭ
the ruler :
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
הַסֶּ֔כֶל
has·se·ḵel
Folly
נִתַּ֣ן
nit·tan
is appointed
רַבִּ֑ים
rab·bîm
to great
בַּמְּרוֹמִ֖ים
bam·mə·rō·w·mîm
heights ,
וַעֲשִׁירִ֖ים
wa·‘ă·šî·rîm
but the rich
יֵשֵֽׁבוּ׃
yê·šê·ḇū
sit
בַּשֵּׁ֥פֶל
baš·šê·p̄el
in lowly positions .
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
רָאִ֥יתִי
rā·’î·ṯî
I have seen
עֲבָדִ֖ים
‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm
slaves
עַל־
‘al-
on
סוּסִ֑ים
sū·sîm
horseback ,
וְשָׂרִ֛ים
wə·śā·rîm
while princes
הֹלְכִ֥ים
hō·lə·ḵîm
go
עַל־
‘al-
on
הָאָֽרֶץ׃
hā·’ā·reṣ
foot
כַּעֲבָדִ֖ים
ka·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm
like slaves .
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
חֹפֵ֥ר
ḥō·p̄êr
He who digs
גּוּמָּ֖ץ
gūm·māṣ
a pit
יִפּ֑וֹל
yip·pō·wl
may fall
בּ֣וֹ
bōw
into it ,
וּפֹרֵ֥ץ
ū·p̄ō·rêṣ
and he who breaches
גָּדֵ֖ר
gā·ḏêr
a wall
יִשְּׁכֶ֥נּוּ
yiš·šə·ḵen·nū
may be bitten
נָחָֽשׁ׃
nā·ḥāš
by a snake .
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
מַסִּ֣יעַ
mas·sî·a‘
The one who quarries
אֲבָנִ֔ים
’ă·ḇā·nîm
stones
יֵעָצֵ֖ב
yê·‘ā·ṣêḇ
may be injured
בָּהֶ֑ם
bā·hem
by them ,
בּוֹקֵ֥עַ
bō·w·qê·a‘
and he who splits
עֵצִ֖ים
‘ê·ṣîm
logs
יִסָּ֥כֶן
yis·sā·ḵen
endangers himself
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
אִם־
’im-
If
הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל
hab·bar·zel
the axe
קֵהָ֣ה
qê·hāh
is dull
וְהוּא֙
wə·hū
and
פָנִ֣ים
p̄ā·nîm
the blade
לֹא־
lō-
vvv
קִלְקַ֔ל
qil·qal
unsharpened ,
וַחֲיָלִ֖ים
wa·ḥă·yā·lîm
more strength
יְגַבֵּ֑ר
yə·ḡab·bêr
must be exerted ,
חָכְמָֽה׃
ḥāḵ·māh
but skill
וְיִתְר֥וֹן
wə·yiṯ·rō·wn
produces
הַכְשֵׁ֖יר
haḵ·šēr
success .
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
אִם־
’im-
If
הַנָּחָ֖שׁ
han·nā·ḥāš
the snake
יִשֹּׁ֥ךְ
yiš·šōḵ
bites
בְּלוֹא־
bə·lō·w-
before
לָ֑חַשׁ
lā·ḥaš
it is charmed ,
וְאֵ֣ין
wə·’ên
there is no
יִתְר֔וֹן
yiṯ·rō·wn
profit
לְבַ֖עַל
lə·ḇa·‘al
for the charmer
הַלָּשֽׁוֹן׃
hal·lā·šō·wn
. . . .
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
דִּבְרֵ֥י
diḇ·rê
The words
חָכָ֖ם
ḥā·ḵām
of a wise man’s
פִי־
p̄î-
mouth
חֵ֑ן
ḥên
are gracious ,
וְשִׂפְת֥וֹת
wə·śip̄·ṯō·wṯ
but the lips
כְּסִ֖יל
kə·sîl
of a fool
תְּבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃
tə·ḇal·lə·‘en·nū
consume him .
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
תְּחִלַּ֥ת
tə·ḥil·laṯ
The beginning
דִּבְרֵי־
diḇ·rê-
of his talk
פִ֖יהוּ
p̄î·hū
. . .
סִכְל֑וּת
siḵ·lūṯ
is folly ,
וְאַחֲרִ֣ית
wə·’a·ḥă·rîṯ
and the end
פִּ֔יהוּ
pî·hū
of his speech
רָעָֽה׃
rā·‘āh
is evil
הוֹלֵל֖וּת
hō·w·lê·lūṯ
madness .
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
וְהַסָּכָ֖ל
wə·has·sā·ḵāl
Yet the fool
יַרְבֶּ֣ה
yar·beh
multiplies
דְבָרִ֑ים
ḏə·ḇā·rîm
words .
לֹא־
lō-
No
הָאָדָם֙
hā·’ā·ḏām
one
יֵדַ֤ע
yê·ḏa‘
knows
מַה־
mah-
what
שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֔ה
še·yih·yeh
is coming ,
מִ֖י

and who
יַגִּ֥יד
yag·gîḏ
can tell
לֽוֹ׃
lōw
him
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר
wa·’ă·šer
what
יִֽהְיֶה֙
yih·yeh
will come
מֵֽאַחֲרָ֔יו
mê·’a·ḥă·rāw
after him ?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
עֲמַ֥ל
‘ă·mal
The toil
הַכְּסִילִ֖ים
hak·kə·sî·lîm
of a fool
תְּיַגְּעֶ֑נּוּ
tə·yag·gə·‘en·nū
wearies him ,
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
’ă·šer
for
לֹֽא־
lō-
he does not
יָדַ֖ע
yā·ḏa‘
know
לָלֶ֥כֶת
lā·le·ḵeṯ
the way
אֶל־
’el-
to
עִֽיר׃
‘îr
the city .
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
אִֽי־
’î-
Woe
לָ֣ךְ
lāḵ
to you ,
אֶ֔רֶץ
’e·reṣ
O land
שֶׁמַּלְכֵּ֖ךְ
šem·mal·kêḵ
whose king
נָ֑עַר
nā·‘ar
is a youth ,
וְשָׂרַ֖יִךְ
wə·śā·ra·yiḵ
and whose princes
יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃
yō·ḵê·lū
feast
בַּבֹּ֥קֶר
bab·bō·qer
in the morning .
17 Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
אַשְׁרֵ֣יךְ
’aš·rêḵ
Blessed are you ,
אֶ֔רֶץ
’e·reṣ
O land
שֶׁמַּלְכֵּ֖ךְ
šem·mal·kêḵ
whose king
בֶּן־
ben-
is a son
חוֹרִ֑ים
ḥō·w·rîm
of nobles ,
וְשָׂרַ֙יִךְ֙
wə·śā·ra·yiḵ
and whose princes
יֹאכֵ֔לוּ
yō·ḵê·lū
feast
בָּעֵ֣ת
bā·‘êṯ
at the proper time —
בִּגְבוּרָ֖ה
biḡ·ḇū·rāh
for strength
וְלֹ֥א
wə·lō
and not
בַשְּׁתִֽי׃
ḇaš·šə·ṯî
for drunkenness .
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם
ba·‘ă·ṣal·ta·yim
Through laziness
הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה
ham·mə·qā·reh
the roof
יִמַּ֣ךְ
yim·maḵ
caves in ,
יָדַ֖יִם
yā·ḏa·yim
and in the hands
וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת
ū·ḇə·šip̄·lūṯ
of the idle ,
הַבָּֽיִת׃
hab·bā·yiṯ
the house
יִדְלֹ֥ף
yiḏ·lōp̄
leaks .
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
לֶ֔חֶם
le·ḥem
A feast
עֹשִׂ֣ים
‘ō·śîm
is prepared
לִשְׂחוֹק֙
liś·ḥō·wq
for laughter ,
וְיַ֖יִן
wə·ya·yin
and wine
חַיִּ֑ים
ḥay·yîm
makes life
יְשַׂמַּ֣ח
yə·śam·maḥ
merry ,
וְהַכֶּ֖סֶף
wə·hak·ke·sep̄
but money
יַעֲנֶ֥ה
ya·‘ă·neh
is the answer
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
הַכֹּֽל׃
hak·kōl
for everything .
20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
אַל־
’al-
Do not
תְּקַלֵּ֔ל
tə·qal·lêl
curse
מֶ֚לֶךְ
me·leḵ
the king
גַּ֣ם
gam
even
בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗
bə·mad·dā·‘ă·ḵā
in your thoughts ,
אַל־
’al-
[or]
תְּקַלֵּ֖ל
tə·qal·lêl
curse
עָשִׁ֑יר
‘ā·šîr
the rich
וּבְחַדְרֵי֙
ū·ḇə·ḥaḏ·rê
even in your bedroom
מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔
miš·kā·ḇə·ḵā
. . . ,
כִּ֣י

for
ע֤וֹף
‘ō·wp̄
a bird
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
haš·šā·ma·yim
of the air
יוֹלִ֣יךְ
yō·w·lîḵ
may carry
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
הַקּ֔וֹל
haq·qō·wl
your words ,
וּבַ֥עַל
ū·ḇa·‘al
and a winged creature
הַכְּנָפַיִם
hak·kə·nå̄·p̄a·yim
. . .
יַגֵּ֥יד
yag·gêḏ
may report
דָּבָֽר׃
dā·ḇār
your speech .