Ecclesiastes 10

1Dead flies make #Ex. 30:25the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2 # [ch. 2:14] A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

3Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,

and he #[Prov. 13:16; 18:2]says to everyone that he is a fool.

4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, #[ch. 8:3] do not leave your place,

# [1 Sam. 25:24, 32, 33]; See Prov. 25:15 for calmness#10:4 Hebrew healing will lay great offenses to rest.

5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were #ch. 5:6an error proceeding from the ruler: 6#[Esth. 3:1; Prov. 28:12; 29:2]folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7#Prov. 19:10; [Prov. 30:22] I have seen slaves #[Esth. 6:8]on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

8He who #See Ps. 7:15 digs a pit will fall into it,

and #Amos 5:19a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.

9 # [1 Chr. 22:2] He who quarries stones is hurt by them,

and he who #[Deut. 19:5]splits logs is endangered by them.

10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,

he must use more strength,

but wisdom helps one to succeed.#10:10 Or wisdom is an advantage for success

11If the serpent bites before it is #[Jer. 8:17]charmed,

there is no advantage to the charmer.

12The words of a wise man’s mouth #Prov. 10:32; 22:11; [Luke 4:22] win him favor,#10:12 Or are gracious

but #See Prov. 18:7the lips of a fool consume him.

13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,

and the end of his talk is evil madness.

14 # See Prov. 15:2 A fool multiplies words,

though no man knows what is to be,

and who can tell him #See ch. 3:22what will be after him?

15The toil of a fool wearies him,

for he does not know #[Isa. 35:8]the way to the city.

16 # Isa. 3:4, 12; [2 Chr. 13:7] Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,

and your princes feast in the morning!

17Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,

and your princes feast at the proper time,

for strength, and not for #[Prov. 31:4; Isa. 5:11]drunkenness!

18Through sloth the roof sinks in,

and through indolence the house leaks.

19Bread is made for laughter,

and #See Ps. 104:15 wine gladdens life,

and #[ch. 7:12]money answers everything.

20Even in your thoughts, #Ex. 22:28 do not curse the king,

nor in your #See 2 Kgs. 6:12; Luke 12:3bedroom curse the rich,

for a bird of the air will carry your voice,

or some winged creature tell the matter.

Currently Selected:

Ecclesiastes 10: ESV

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About English Standard Version 2016

Ecclesiastes 10

1Dead flies can make a whole bottle of perfume stink, and a little stupidity can cancel out the greatest wisdom.

2It is natural for the wise to do the right thing and for fools to do the wrong thing. 3Their stupidity will be evident even to strangers they meet along the way; they let everyone know that they are fools.

4If your ruler becomes angry with you, do not hand in your resignation; serious wrongs may be pardoned if you keep calm.#10.4 keep calm; or submit to him.

5Here is an injustice I have seen in the world — an injustice caused by rulers. 6Stupid people are given positions of authority while the rich are ignored. 7I have seen slaves on horseback while noblemen go on foot like slaves.

8 # Ps 7.15; Prov 26.27 If you dig a pit, you fall in it; if you break through a wall, a snake bites you. 9If you work in a stone quarry, you get hurt by stones. If you split wood, you get hurt doing it. 10If your axe is blunt and you don't sharpen it, you have to work harder to use it. It is more sensible to plan ahead. 11Knowing how to charm a snake is of no use if you let the snake bite first. 12What the wise say brings them honour, but fools are destroyed by their own words. 13They start out with silly talk and end up with pure madness. 14A fool talks on and on.

No one knows what is going to happen next, and no one can tell us what will happen after we die.

15Only someone too stupid to find his way home would wear himself out with work.

16A country is in trouble when its king is a youth and its leaders feast all night long. 17But a country is fortunate to have a king who makes his own decisions and leaders who eat at the proper time, who control themselves and don't get drunk.

18When someone is too lazy to repair his roof, it will leak, and the house will fall in.

19Feasting makes you happy and wine cheers you up, but you can't have either without money.

20Don't criticize the king, even silently, and don't criticize the rich, even in the privacy of your bedroom. A bird might carry the message and tell them what you said.

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About Good News Bible (British) with DC section 2017