Ecclesiastes 10:10-12

American Standard Version

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. ^11 [a]If the serpent bite ^[b]before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in ^[c]the charmer. ¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.