Ecclesiastes 10

zevuve mavet yavish yabbia shemen roqeakh yaqar mekhokhmah mikkavod sikhlut me'at

Dead flies turn the perfumer’s ointment fetid and putrid; so a little folly outweighs massive wisdom.

lev khakham limino velev kesil lismolo

A sage’s mind tends toward the right hand, a fool’s toward the left.

vegam-badderekh (khshhskhl) [keshessakhal] holekh libbo khaser ve'amar lakkol sakhal hu

The mind of a fool is wanting also when traveling—which lets everybody know who is a fool.

im-ruakh hammoshel ta'aleh alekha meqomekha al-tannakh ki marpe yanniakh khata'im gedolim

If the wrath of a lord flares up against you, don’t give up your post; for when wrath abates, grave offenses are pardoned.

yesh ra'ah ra'iti takhat hashamesh kishgagah sheyyotsa millifne hashallit

Here is an evil I have seen under the sun as great as an error committed by a ruler:

nittan hassekhel bammeromim rabbim va'ashirim bashefel yeshevu

Folly was placed on lofty heights, while the rich sat in low estate.

ra'iti avadim al-susim vesarim holekhim ka'avadim al-ha'arets

I have seen slaves on horseback, and nobles walking on the ground like slaves.

khofer gummats bo yippol uforets gader yishekhennu nakhash

One who digs a pit will fall into it; one who breaches a stone fence will be bitten by a snake.

massia avanim ye'atsev bahem boqea etsim yissakhen bam

One who quarries stones will be hurt by them; one who splits wood will be harmed by it.

im-qehah habbarzel vehu lo-fanim qilqal vakhayalim yegabber veyitron hakhsher khokhmah

If the ax has become dull and the edge has not been whetted, then more strength must be exerted. Thus the advantage of a skill [depends on the exercise of] prudence.

im-yishokh hannakhash belo-lakhash ve'en yitron leva'al hallashon

If the snake bites because no spell was uttered, no advantage is gained by the trained charmer.

divre fi-khakham khen vesiftot kesil tevalle'ennu

Sages’ talk brings them favor, but fools’ lips are their undoing.

tekhillat divre-fihu sikhlut ve'akharit pihu holelut ra'ah

Their talk begins as silliness and ends as disastrous madness.

vehassakhal yarbeh devarim lo-yeda ha'adam mah-sheyyihyeh va'asher yihyeh me'akharayw mi yaggid lo

Yet fools talk and talk! Humans cannot know what will happen; who can tell them what the future holds?

amal hakkesilim teyagge'ennu asher lo-yada lalekhet el-ir

The exertions of fools tire them out, for they don’t know how to get to a town.

i-lakh erets shemmalkekh na'ar vesarayikh babboqer yokhelu

Alas for you, O land whose king is a lackey and whose ministers dine in the morning!

ashrekh erets shemmalkekh ben-khorim vesarayikh ba'et yokhelu bigvurah velo vasheti

Happy are you, O land whose king is a master and whose ministers dine at the proper time—with restraint, not with guzzling!

ba'atsaltayim yimmakh hammeqareh uveshiflut yadayim yidlof habbayit

Through slothfulness the ceiling sags, Through lazy hands the house caves in.

liskhoq osim lekhem veyayin yesammakh khayyim vehakkesef ya'aneh et-hakkol

They make a banquet for revelry; wine makes life merry, and money answers every need.

gam bemadda'akha melekh al-teqallel uvekhadre mishkavekha al-teqallel ashir ki of hashamayim yolikh et-haqqol uva'al (hkhnfym) [kenafayim] yagged davar

Don’t revile a king even among your intimates. Don’t revile someone who is rich even in your bedchamber; For a bird of the air may carry the utterance, And a winged creature may report the word.