Wisdom Better than Folly

Ecclesiastes 9

¹¹ Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all. ¹² For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.

¹³ I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. ¹⁴ There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. ¹⁵ Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ So I said, "Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded."

¹⁷ The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one bungler destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 10

¹ Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a foul odor;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
² The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of a fool to the left.
³ Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense,
and show to everyone that they are fools.
⁴ If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post,
for calmness will undo great offenses.

⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded 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 horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.

⁸ Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
⁹ Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them;
and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge,
then more strength must be exerted;
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage in a charmer.

¹² Words spoken by the wise bring them favor,
but the lips of fools consume them.
¹³ The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,
and their talk ends in wicked madness;
¹⁴ yet fools talk on and on.
No one knows what is to happen,
and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
¹⁵ The toil of fools wears them out,
for they do not even know the way to town.

¹⁶ Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, ₁
and your princes feast in the morning!
¹⁷ Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman,
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 Feasts are made for laughter;
wine gladdens life,
and money meets every need.
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 voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.