Ecclésiaste 10.11
English standard version

Réflexions sur la folie

¹ Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
² A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool's heart to the left.
³ Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
⁴ If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:
⁶ folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
⁷ I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
⁸ He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
⁹ He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
¹¹ If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
¹² The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
¹⁴ A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
¹⁵ The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know the way to the city.
¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
¹⁷ Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
¹⁸ Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
¹⁹ Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
²⁰ Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.