‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10:1‭-‬20‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Dead flies in perfume make it stink, And a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom. [2] Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living. [3] Fools on the road have no sense of direction. The way they walk tells the story: “There goes the fool again!” [4] If a ruler loses his temper against you, don’t panic; A calm disposition quiets intemperate rage. * * * [5-7] Here’s a piece of bad business I’ve seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge: Immaturity is given a place of prominence, While maturity is made to take a backseat. I’ve seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture. * * * [8] Caution: The trap you set might catch you. Warning: Your accomplice in crime might double-cross you. [9] Safety first: Quarrying stones is dangerous. Be alert: Felling trees is hazardous. [10] Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work; Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle. [11] If the snake bites before it’s been charmed, What’s the point in then sending for the charmer? * * * [12-13] The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs— He starts out talking nonsense And ends up spouting insanity and evil. [14] Fools talk way too much, Chattering stuff they know nothing about. [15] A decent day’s work so fatigues fools That they can’t find their way back to town. * * * [16-17] Unlucky the land whose king is a young pup, And whose princes party all night. Lucky the land whose king is mature, Where the princes behave themselves And don’t drink themselves silly. * * * [18] A shiftless man lives in a tumbledown shack; A lazy woman ends up with a leaky roof. [19] Laughter and bread go together, And wine gives sparkle to life— But it’s money that makes the world go around. [20] Don’t bad-mouth your leaders, not even under your breath, And don’t abuse your betters, even in the privacy of your home. Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around. Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide.

https://bible.com/bible/97/ecc.10.1.MSG