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

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 →
Matthew 51 verse
- Matthew 5:13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
- Read Matthew 5 →

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