Ecclesiastes 10
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Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
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Notes
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10.1 Dead…: Heb. Flies of death
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A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
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Yea 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.
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10.3 his…: Heb. his heart
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If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
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There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
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10.5 from: Heb. from before
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Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
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10.6 in great…: Heb. in great heights
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I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
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He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
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Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
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If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
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Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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10.11 a babbler: Heb. the master of the tongue
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The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
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10.12 gracious: Heb. grace
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The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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10.13 his talk: Heb. his mouth
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A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
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10.14 is full…: Heb. multiplieth words
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The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
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¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
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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!
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¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
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¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
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10.19 maketh…: Heb. maketh glad the life
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¶ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
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10.20 thought: or, conscience