Ecclesiastes 10
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King James BibleNew Living Translation
1Dead 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.1As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.2A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.
3Yea 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.3You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.4If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes. The Ironies of Life
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:5There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.6when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.7I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.8When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake.
9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.9When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax.
10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.10Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.
11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.11If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer?
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.12Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.13Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness;
14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?14they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future.
15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.15Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!16What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant, the land whose leaders feast in the morning.
17Blessed 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!17Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader and whose leaders feast at the proper time to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.
18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.18Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.19A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!
20Curse 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.20Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 9
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