1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
Ecclesiastes 10:1–2
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 14:7–9
7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them. 9 Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
Proverbs 17:23–25
23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice. 24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
Proverbs 12:14–16
14 By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Ecclesiastes 10:11–13
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Sirach 21:25–27
25 The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance. (WEB) 26 The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is their heart. (WEB) 27 When the ungodly curses an adversary, he curses his own soul. (WEB)
Proverbs 15:13–15
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit. 14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. 15 All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Ecclesiastes 2:13–15
13 And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness: 14 The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both. 15 So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me.…
Ecclesiastes 7:3–5
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
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