Ecclesiastes 10:9-11

Holman Christian Standard Bible

⁹ The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;
the one who splits trees may be endangered by them.
¹⁰ If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,
then one must exert more strength;
however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed,^(A)
then there is no advantage for the charmer.^[a]