Ecclesiastes 10
10
1As dead flies spoil the perfumer’s oil,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2The mind of the wise tends toward the right,
but the mind of the fool toward the left.
3Fools lack all sense even when they walk down the street;
they show everyone that they are fools.
4If a ruler’s temper rises against you,
don’t leave your post, because calmness alleviates great offenses.
5There’s an evil that I have seen under the sun: the kind of mistake that comes from people in power. 6Fools are appointed to high posts, while the rich sit in lowly positions. 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walk on foot like slaves.
8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall
may be bitten by a snake.
9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs
may be endangered by them.
10If an ax is dull
and one doesn’t sharpen it first,
then one must exert more force.
It’s profitable to be skillful and wise.
11If a snake bites before it’s charmed,
then there’s no profit
for the snake charmer.
12Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial,
but fools are devoured by their own lips.
13Fools start out talking foolishness
and end up speaking awful nonsense.
14Fools talk too much!
No one knows what will happen;
no one can say what will happen in the future.
15The hard work of fools tires them out
because they don’t even know the way to town!
16Too bad for you, land,
whose king is a boy
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Happy is the land
whose king is dignified
and whose princes feast at the right time for energy,
not for drunkenness.
18Through laziness, the roof sags;
through idle hands, the house leaks.
19Feasts are made for laughter,
wine cheers the living,
and money answers everything.#10.19 Or money is everyone's answer.
20Don’t curse a king even in private; don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird could carry your voice; some winged creature could report what you said!
Currently Selected:
Ecclesiastes 10: CEB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.