Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to stink: 'so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.' A fool's heart is at his left; folly is set in great dignity while the rich sit in a low place.

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Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to stink: 'so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.' A fool's heart is at his left; folly is set in great dignity while the rich sit in a low place. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; if the axe be blunt, one must put to more strength: 'but wisdom is profitable to direct.' The fool multiplieth words. 'Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child'; curse not the king, no, not in thy thought: a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

Poetry · Solomon — Ecclesiastes overview

A. 1–11 Dead Flies Spoil the Ointment: a Little Folly Outweighs Wisdom
B. 12–20 Woe to the Land Whose King Is a Child — a Bird Shall Carry the Voice

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Luke 123 verses
- Luke 12:2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
- Luke 12:18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.
- Luke 12:19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Read Luke 12 →
Ecclesiastes 102 verses
- Ecclesiastes 10:14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
- Ecclesiastes 10:15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
- Read Ecclesiastes 10 →
Ecclesiastes 82 verses
- Ecclesiastes 8:3Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
- Ecclesiastes 8:7Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?
- Read Ecclesiastes 8 →
1 Samuel 252 verses
- 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
- 1 Samuel 25:24She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.
- Read 1 Samuel 25 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Ecclesiastes 52 verses
- Ecclesiastes 5:3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- Ecclesiastes 5:13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
- Read Ecclesiastes 5 →
Proverbs 292 verses
- Proverbs 29:2When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
- Proverbs 29:9If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
- Read Proverbs 29 →
Colossians 42 verses
- Colossians 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- Read Colossians 4 →
Isaiah 32 verses
- Isaiah 3:4“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”
- Isaiah 3:12Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
- Read Isaiah 3 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.