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 .

Young’s Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 10 (YLT)

[1] Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom- By reason of honour-a little folly!
[2] The heart of the wise is at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
[3] And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, ‘He is a fool.’
[4] If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
[5] There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
[6] He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
[7] I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
[8] Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
[9] Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
[10] If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom is advantageous to make right.
[11] If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
[12] Words of the mouth of the wise are gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
[13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, And the latter end of his mouth Is mischievous madness.
[14] And the fool multiplieth words: ‘Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?’
[15] The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
[16] Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
[17] Happy art thou, O land, When thy king is a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
[18] By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
[19] For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
[20] Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.