Ecclesiastes 10 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor;
so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
[2] A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
but a fool’s heart at his left. [3] Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. [4] If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest. [5] There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler. [6] Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. [7] I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. [8] He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. [9] Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it. [10] If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success. [11] If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue. [12] The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. [13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. [14] A fool also multiplies words.Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him? [15] The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
[16] Woe to you, land, when your king is a child,
and your princes eat in the morning!
[17] Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles,
and your princes eat in due season,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
[18] By slothfulness the roof sinks in;
and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
[19] A feast is made for laughter,
and wine makes the life glad;
and money is the answer for all things.
[20] Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts;
and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom,
for a bird of the sky may carry your voice,
and that which has wings may tell the matter.
so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
[2] A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
but a fool’s heart at his left. [3] Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. [4] If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest. [5] There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler. [6] Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. [7] I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. [8] He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. [9] Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it. [10] If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success. [11] If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue. [12] The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. [13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. [14] A fool also multiplies words.Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him? [15] The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
[16] Woe to you, land, when your king is a child,
and your princes eat in the morning!
[17] Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles,
and your princes eat in due season,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
[18] By slothfulness the roof sinks in;
and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
[19] A feast is made for laughter,
and wine makes the life glad;
and money is the answer for all things.
[20] Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts;
and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom,
for a bird of the sky may carry your voice,
and that which has wings may tell the matter.
King James Version
[1] Dead H4194 flies H2070§ cause the ointment H8081 of the apothecary H7543 (QalActPtc) to send forth H5042 (HiphImpf) a stinking savour: H887 (HiphImpf) so doth a little H4592 folly H5531 him that is in reputation H3368 for wisdom H2451 and honour. H3519 [2] A wise man’s H2450 heart H3820 is at his right hand; H3225 but a fool’s H3684 heart H3820 at his left. H8040 [3] Yea also, when he that is a fool H5530 walketh H1980 (QalActPtc) by the way, H1870 his wisdom H3820§ faileth H2638 him, and he saith H559 (QalPerf) to every one that he is a fool. H5530 [4] If the spirit H7307 of the ruler H4910 (QalActPtc) rise up H5927 (QalImpf) against thee, leave H3240 (HiphImpf) not thy place; H4725 for yielding H4832 pacifieth H3240 (HiphImpf) great H1419 offences. H2399 [5] There is H3426 an evil H7451 which I have seen H7200 (QalPerf) under the sun, H8121 as an error H7684 which proceedeth H3318 (QalActPtc) from H6440§ the ruler: H7989 [6] folly H5529 is set H5414 (NiphPerf) in great H7227 dignity, H4791§ and the rich H6223 sit H3427 (QalImpf) in low place. H8216 [7] I have seen H7200 (QalPerf) servants H5650 upon horses, H5483 and princes H8269 walking H1980 (QalActPtc) as servants H5650 upon the earth. H776 [8] He that diggeth H2658 (QalActPtc) a pit H1475 shall fall H5307 (QalImpf) into it; and whoso breaketh H6555 (QalActPtc) an hedge, H1447 a serpent H5175 shall bite H5391 (QalImpf) him. [9] Whoso removeth H5265 (HiphPtc) stones H68 shall be hurt H6087 (NiphImpf) therewith; and he that cleaveth H1234 (QalActPtc) wood H6086 shall be endangered H5533 (NiphImpf) thereby. [10] If the iron H1270 be blunt, H6949 (PielPerf) and he do not whet H7043 (PilpPerf) the edge, H6440 then must he put H1396 (PielImpf) to more strength: H2428 but wisdom H2451 is profitable H3504 to direct. H3787 (HiphInf) [11] Surely the serpent H5175 will bite H5391 (QalImpf) without enchantment; H3908 and a babbler H3956§ is no better. H3504 [12] The words H1697 of a wise man’s H2450 mouth H6310 are gracious;§ H2580 but the lips H8193 of a fool H3684 will swallow up H1104 (PielImpf) himself. [13] The beginning H8462 of the words H1697 of his mouth H6310 is foolishness: H5531 and the end H319 of his talk H6310§ is mischievous H7451 madness. H1948 [14] A fool H5530 also is full H7235 (HiphImpf) of words: H1697§ a man H120 cannot tell H3045 (QalImpf) what shall be; and what shall be after H310 him, who can tell H5046 (HiphImpf) him? [15] The labour H5999 of the foolish H3684 wearieth H3021 (PielImpf) every one of them, because he knoweth H3045 (QalPerf) not how to go H3212 (QalInf) to the city. H5892 [16] Woe H337 to thee, O land, H776 when thy king H4428 is a child, H5288 and thy princes H8269 eat H398 (QalImpf) in the morning! H1242 [17] Blessed H835 art thou, O land, H776 when thy king H4428 is the son H1121 of nobles, H2715 and thy princes H8269 eat H398 (QalImpf) in due season, H6256 for strength, H1369 and not for drunkenness! H8358 [18] By much slothfulness H6103 the building H4746 decayeth; H4355 (NiphImpf) and through idleness H8220 of the hands H3027 the house H1004 droppeth through. H1811 (QalImpf) [19] A feast H3899 is made H6213 (QalActPtc) for laughter, H7814 and wine H3196 maketh merry: H8055 (PielImpf)§ but money H3701 answereth H6030 (QalImpf) all things. [20] Curse H7043 (PielImpf) not the king, H4428 no not in thy thought; H4093§ and curse H7043 (PielImpf) not the rich H6223 in thy bedchamber: H2315 for a bird H5775 of the air H8064 shall carry H3212 (HiphImpf) the voice, H6963 and that which hath H1167 wings H3671 shall tell H5046 (HiphImpf) the matter. H1697
Footnotes
- § 10:1 Heb. Flies of death
- § 10:3 Heb. his heart
- § 10:5 Heb. from before
- § 10:6 Heb. in great heights
- § 10:11 Heb. the master of the tongue
- § 10:12 Heb. grace
- § 10:13 Heb. his mouth
- § 10:14 Heb. multiplieth words
- § 10:19 Heb. maketh glad the life
- § 10:20 Or, conscience
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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