Wisdom Better Than Folly

[11] I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. [12] For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. [13] This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: [14] There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: [15] Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. [16] Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. [17] The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. [18] Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

[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. [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. [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? [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. [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.

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

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.