Ecclesiastes 10 NASB / KJV / GWT / WEB / DBY

Ecclesiastes 10

<< Ecclesiastes 10 >>
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A Little Foolishness

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1 Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

1 Dead flies will make a bottle of perfume stink, and then it is spoiled. A little foolishness outweighs wisdom [and] honor.

1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink and ferment; so a little folly is weightier than wisdom and honour.

2 A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.

2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

2 A wise person's heart leads the right way. The heart of a fool leads the wrong way.

2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.

2 The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

3 Even when a fool goes walking, he has no sense and shows everyone else that he's a fool.

3 Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

4 If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

4 If a ruler becomes angry with you, don't resign your position. If you remain calm, you can make up for serious offenses.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

5 There is a tragedy that I've seen under the sun, an error often made by rulers.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error that proceedeth from the ruler:

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6 folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

6 Foolish people are often given high positions, and rich people are left to fill lower positions.

6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

7 I have seen slaves sitting on horses and influential people going on foot like slaves.

7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.

8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it. Whoever breaks through a stone wall may be bitten by a snake.

8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

9 Whoever works in a stone quarry may get hurt. Whoever splits wood may be injured.

9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.

9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

10 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

10 If an ax is blunt and the edge isn't sharpened, then one has to use more strength. But wisdom prepares the way for success.

10 If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

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11 If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

11 If a snake bites before it has been charmed, then there is no advantage in being a snake charmer.

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.

11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

12 A wise person's words win favors, but a fool's lips are self-destructive.

12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.

13 the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

13 A fool starts out by talking foolishness and ends up saying crazy things that are dangerous.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

14 He never stops talking. No one knows what the future will bring, or what will happen after [death]. Who can say!

14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

14 And the fool multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?

15 The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

15 Fools wear themselves out with hard work, because they don't even know the way to town.

15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.

15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.

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16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

16 How horrible it will be for any country where the king used to be a servant and where the high officials throw parties in the morning.

16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness.

17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

17 A country is blessed when the king is from a noble family and when the high officials eat at the right time in order to get strength and not to get drunk.

17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.

18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

18 A roof sags because of laziness. A house leaks because of idle hands.

18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

19 Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

19 A meal is made for laughter, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is the answer for everything.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.

20 Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.

20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

20 Don't curse the king even in your thoughts, and don't curse rich people even in your bedroom. A bird may carry your words, or some winged creature may repeat what you say.

20 Don'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.

20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

<< Ecclesiastes 10 >>

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