Ecclesiastes 10
10
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
4 If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
10 If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
14 The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
20 You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
Currently Selected:
Ecclesiastes 10: CPDV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Ecclesiastes 10
10
The Burden of Folly
1Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink; # Ex 30:25
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart goes to the # Lit his right,
but a fool’s heart to the # Lit his left.
3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,
and he shows everyone he is a fool. # Pr 13:16; 18:2
4If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your place, # Ec 8:3
for calmness puts great offenses to rest. # 1Sm 25:24-33; Pr 25:15
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
6The fool is appointed to great heights, # Est 3:1; Pr 28:12; 29:2
but the rich remain in lowly positions.
7I have seen slaves on horses, # Pr 19:10
but princes walking on the ground like slaves. # Est 6:8-10
8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, # Ps 7:15
and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. # Am 5:19
9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;
the one who splits trees may be endangered by them.
10If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,
then one must exert more strength;
however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, # Jr 8:17
then there is no advantage for the charmer. # Lit master of the tongue
12The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, # Pr 10:32; 22:11; Lk 4:22
but the lips of a fool consume him. # Pr 18:7
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly,
but the end of his speaking is evil madness.
14Yet the fool multiplies words.
No one knows what will happen,
and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? # Ec 8:7,17
15The struggles of fools weary them,
for they don’t know how to go to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth # Pr 30:21-22; Is 3:4,12
and your princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles
and your princes feast at the proper time —
for strength and not for drunkenness. # Pr 31:4; Is 5:11
18Because of laziness the roof caves in,
and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
19A feast is prepared for laughter,
and wine makes life happy, # Ps 104:15
and money is the answer for everything. # Ec 7:12
20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, # Ex 22:28
and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, # 2Kg 6:12; Lk 12:3
for a bird of the sky may carry the message,
and a winged creature may report the matter.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.