1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 11:21–23
21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape. 22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wra…
Ecclesiastes 9:17–18
17 The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Ecclesiastes 7:1–2
1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth. 2 It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.
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 20:19–21
19 A man without grace is a tale out of season. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. (WEB) 20 A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he won’t tell it at the proper time. (WEB) 21 There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack. When he rests, he… (WEB)
Sirach 21:17–19
17 The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation. They will ponder his words in their heart. (WEB) 18 As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool. The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense. (WEB) 19 Instruction is as fetters on the feet… (WEB)
Proverbs 27:2–4
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both. 4 Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
Ecclesiastes 7:5–7
5 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile. 7 Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
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