Wisdom and Folly
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, Mat 5:13-16Gal 2:12-14Exo 30:25Neh 13:262Ch 19:2Exo 30:34-35Neh 6:13
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, Ecc 10:14Luk 12:18-20Ecc 10:10Luk 14:28-32Pro 14:8Pro 17:16Ecc 9:10
but the heart of a fool to the left.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, Pro 18:2Pro 13:161Pe 4:4Ecc 5:3Pro 18:6
and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, Pro 25:15Ecc 8:31Sa 25:24-44
for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— Ecc 5:13Ecc 6:1Ecc 3:16Ecc 4:1Ecc 4:7Ecc 9:3
an error that proceeds from the ruler:
Folly is appointed to great heights, Pro 28:12Pro 29:2Est 3:1Psa 12:81Ki 12:13-14Pro 28:28Jdg 9:14-20Jas 2:3-5
but the rich sit in lowly positions.
I have seen slaves on horseback, Pro 19:10Est 6:8Pro 30:22
while princes go on foot like slaves.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, Pro 26:27Psa 7:15-16Amo 5:19Est 7:102Sa 17:23Amo 9:3Psa 9:15-16Jdg 9:5
and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them,
and he who splits logs endangers himself.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, Jas 1:5Col 4:5Ecc 10:151Co 14:20Eph 5:15-171Ki 3:9Ecc 9:15-17Act 6:1-9
more strength must be exerted,
but skill produces success.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, Jer 8:17Psa 58:4-5Psa 52:2Psa 64:3Jas 3:6Pro 18:21
there is no profit for the charmer.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, Col 4:6Luk 4:22Pro 15:2Pro 22:11Eph 4:29Pro 10:13-14Pro 10:20-21Pro 10:31-32
but the lips of a fool consume him.
The beginning of his talk is folly, 1Sa 25:10-11Pro 29:91Sa 20:26-331Sa 22:16-181Sa 22:7-82Ki 6:272Ki 6:312Sa 19:41
and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Yet the fool multiplies words. Pro 15:2Ecc 3:22Ecc 5:3Ecc 6:12Ecc 8:7Jas 4:13-14Job 35:16Pro 10:19
No one knows what is coming,
and who can tell him what will come after him?
The toil of a fool wearies him, Isa 57:1Jer 50:4-5Ecc 10:3Isa 35:8-10Psa 107:4Psa 107:7Ecc 10:10Hab 2:6
for he does not know the way to the city.
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, 1 Isa 3:12Isa 5:11-12Isa 3:4-5Pro 20:1-22Ch 13:7Jer 21:122Ch 36:22Ch 36:5
and whose princes feast in the morning.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, Pro 31:4-5Deu 14:26Ecc 10:6-7Isa 5:11Jer 30:21Pro 28:2-3
and whose princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.
Through laziness the roof caves in, Pro 14:1Pro 20:4Pro 24:30-34Heb 6:11Pro 21:25Pro 23:212Pe 1:5-10Pro 12:24
and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, Psa 104:151Pe 4:3Ecc 2:1-2Ecc 7:11-12Isa 23:18Isa 24:11Luk 12:19Php 4:15-19
but money is the answer for everything.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, Act 23:5Luk 12:2-32Ki 6:12Ecc 7:21-22Exo 22:28Isa 8:21Luk 19:40Luk 10:40
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.