Ecclesiastes 10 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Ecclesiastes 10 (WEBP)

[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.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Ecclesiastes 10 (KJVS)

[1] Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary () to send forth () a stinking savour: () so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
[2] A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
[3] Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh () by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith () to every one that he is a fool.
[4] If the spirit of the ruler () rise up () against thee, leave () not thy place; for yielding pacifieth () great offences.
[5] There is an evil which I have seen () under the sun, as an error which proceedeth () from the ruler:
[6] folly is set () in great dignity, and the rich sit () in low place.
[7] I have seen () servants upon horses, and princes walking () as servants upon the earth.
[8] He that diggeth () a pit shall fall () into it; and whoso breaketh () an hedge, a serpent shall bite () him.
[9] Whoso removeth () stones shall be hurt () therewith; and he that cleaveth () wood shall be endangered () thereby.
[10] If the iron be blunt, () and he do not whet () the edge, then must he put () to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. ()
[11] Surely the serpent will bite () without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
[12] The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up () himself.
[13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
[14] A fool also is full () of words: a man cannot tell () what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell () him?
[15] The labour of the foolish wearieth () every one of them, because he knoweth () not how to go () to the city.
[16] Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat () in the morning!
[17] Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat () in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
[18] By much slothfulness the building decayeth; () and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. ()
[19] A feast is made () for laughter, and wine maketh merry: () but money answereth () all things.
[20] Curse () not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse () not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry () the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell () the matter.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 Heb. Flies of death
Ecclesiastes 10:3 Heb. his heart
Ecclesiastes 10:5 Heb. from before
Ecclesiastes 10:6 Heb. in great heights
Ecclesiastes 10:11 Heb. the master of the tongue
Ecclesiastes 10:12 Heb. grace
Ecclesiastes 10:13 Heb. his mouth
Ecclesiastes 10:14 Heb. multiplieth words
Ecclesiastes 10:19 Heb. maketh glad the life
Ecclesiastes 10:20 Or, conscience

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

Ecclesiastes 10 (BYZ)

[1] μυιαι θανατουσαι σαπριουσιν σκευασιαν ελαιου ηδυσματος τιμιον ολιγον σοφιας υπερ δοξαν αφροσυνης μεγαλης
[2] καρδια σοφου εις δεξιον αυτου και καρδια αφρονος εις αριστερον αυτου
[3] και γε εν οδω οταν αφρων πορευηται καρδια αυτου υστερησει και α λογιειται παντα αφροσυνη εστιν
[4] εαν πνευμα του εξουσιαζοντος αναβη επι σε τοπον σου μη αφης οτι ιαμα καταπαυσει αμαρτιας μεγαλας
[5] εστιν πονηρια ην ειδον υπο τον ηλιον ως ακουσιον ο εξηλθεν απο προσωπου του εξουσιαζοντος
[6] εδοθη ο αφρων εν υψεσι μεγαλοις και πλουσιοι εν ταπεινω καθησονται
[7] ειδον δουλους εφ ιππους και αρχοντας πορευομενους ως δουλους επι της γης
[8] ο ορυσσων βοθρον εν αυτω εμπεσειται και καθαιρουντα φραγμον δηξεται αυτον οφις
[9] εξαιρων λιθους διαπονηθησεται εν αυτοις σχιζων ξυλα κινδυνευσει εν αυτοις
[10] εαν εκπεση το σιδηριον και αυτος προσωπον εταραξεν και δυναμεις δυναμωσει και περισσεια του ανδρειου σοφια
[11] εαν δακη ο οφις εν ου ψιθυρισμω και ουκ εστιν περισσεια τω επαδοντι
[12] λογοι στοματος σοφου χαρις και χειλη αφρονος καταποντιουσιν αυτον
[13] αρχη λογων στοματος αυτου αφροσονη και εσχατη στοματος αυτου περιφερεια πονηρα
[14] και ο αφρων πληθυνει λογους ουκ εγνω ο ανθρωπος τι το γενομενον και τι το εσομενον οπισω αυτου τις αναγγελει αυτω
[15] μοχθος των αφρονων κοπωσει αυτους ος ουκ εγνω του πορευθηναι εις πολιν
[16] ουαι σοι πολις ης ο βασιλευς σου νεωτερος και οι αρχοντες σου εν πρωια εσθιουσιν
[17] μακαρια συ γη ης ο βασιλευς σου υιος ελευθερων και οι αρχοντες σου προς καιρον φαγονται εν δυναμει και ουκ αισχυνθησονται
[18] εν οκνηριαις ταπεινωθησεται η δοκωσις και εν αργια χειρων σταξει η οικια
[19] εις γελωτα ποιουσιν αρτον και οινος ευφραινει ζωντας και του αργυριου επακουσεται συν τα παντα
[20] και γε εν συνειδησει σου βασιλεα μη καταραση και εν ταμιειοις κοιτωνων σου μη καταραση πλουσιον οτι πετεινον του ουρανου αποισει συν την φωνην και ο εχων τας πτερυγας απαγγελει λογον