Ecclesiastes 10
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New American Standard Bible 1995English Standard Version
1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.1Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.2A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.
3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.3Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:
6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.8He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.9He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.11If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;12The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?14A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
15The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!
17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness.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 drunkenness!
18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.18Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.19Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
20Furthermore, 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.20Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.orgESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 9
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