The Skeptics Annotated Bible (520 page)

10
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

(10.1)
“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but
wisdom is profitable to direct.

(10.10) “Wisdom is profitable to direct.”

11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

(10.12) “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.”

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14
A fool also is full of words
: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

(10.14) “A fool also is full of words.”

15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but
money answereth all things.

(10.19)
“Money answereth all things.”
316 Is money a good thing?

20
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich
in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

(10.20)
“Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich.”

(11.1-4) I don’t know what these verses mean, but they sound pretty cool.

11
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

(11.1)
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north,
in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

(11.3) “In the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.”

4
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

(11.4) “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

(11.7-10)

7
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

(11.7)
“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.”

8 But
if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

(11.8)
“If a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.”

9
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes
: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

(11.9)
“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes.”
136 Should we follow after our own heart and eyes?

10 Therefore
remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.