Ecclesiastes
Chapter 10World English Bible
Berean Standard Bible
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun - an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time - for strength and not for drunkenness.
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20Don’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.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
World English Bible and Berean Standard Bible. Words of Jesus in gold; words the KJV translators added are in italics. Tap a verse number to copy, share or listen from there.