Ecclesiastes 10
NKJV Parallel BSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
New King James VersionBerean Study Bible
1Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left.2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler:5There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.6Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning!16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time— For strength and not for drunkenness!17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
18Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.
Ecclesiastes 9
Top of Page
Top of Page