Ecclesiastes 10
10
A Little Foolishness
1Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor. 2A wise man’s heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool’s heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation]. [Matt 25:31-41] 3Even when a fool walks along the road, his [common] sense and good judgment fail him and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. 4If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post [showing resistance], because composure and calmness prevent great offenses.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler— 6folly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places. 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the ground.
8He who digs a pit [for others] may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a [stone] wall. [Ps 57:6] 9He who quarries stones may be hurt with them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. [Prov 26:27] 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort]. 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer. 12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him; 13the beginning of #10:13 Lit the words of his mouth.his talking is foolishness and the end of his talk is wicked madness. 14Yet the fool multiplies words, though no man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after he is gone? 15The labor of a fool so wearies him [because he is ignorant] that he does not even know how to go to a city. 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and when your [incompetent] officials and princes feast in the morning. 17Blessed [prosperous and admired] are you, O land, when your king is a man of noble birth, and your princes and officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. [Is 32:8] 18Through laziness the rafters [of state affairs] decay and the roof sags, and through idleness [the roof of] the house leaks. 19The officials make a feast for enjoyment [instead of repairing what is broken], and serve wine to make life merry, and money is the answer to everything. 20Moreover, do not curse the king, even in your bedroom, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry the sound and a winged creature will make the matter known. [Ex 22:28]
Currently Selected:
Ecclesiastes 10: AMP
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Amplified® Bible
Copyright © 2015 by
The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631
All rights reserved. http://www.lockman.org
Ecclesiastes 10
10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour;
so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
but a fool’s heart at his left. 3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to 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 offences to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler. 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. 8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through 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. 10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue. 12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14A fool also multiplies words.
Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him? 15The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child,
and your princes eat 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!
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.
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
PUBLIC DOMAIN. "World Messianic Bible" is a trademark.