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Ecclesiastes 10-12
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 10-12
English Standard Version
10 Dead flies make (A)the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 (B)A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool's heart to the left.
3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he (C)says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, (D)do not leave your place,
(E)for calmness[a] will lay great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were (F)an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 (G)folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 (H)I have seen slaves (I)on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8 He who (J)digs a pit will fall into it,
and (K)a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9 (L)He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who (M)splits logs is endangered by them.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.[b]
11 If the serpent bites before it is (N)charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth (O)win him favor,[c]
but (P)the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14 (Q)A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him (R)what will be after him?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know (S)the way to the city.
16 (T)Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Happy 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 (U)drunkenness!
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter,
and (V)wine gladdens life,
and (W)money answers everything.
20 Even in your thoughts, (X)do not curse the king,
nor in your (Y)bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
Cast Your Bread upon the Waters
11 (Z)Cast your bread upon the waters,
(AA)for you will find it after many days.
2 (AB)Give a portion to (AC)seven, or even to eight,
(AD)for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the way (AE)the spirit comes to (AF)the bones in the womb[d] of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening (AG)withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to (AH)see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember (AI)that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is (AJ)vanity.[e]
9 (AK)Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. (AL)Walk in the ways of your heart and (AM)the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things (AN)God will bring you into judgment.
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and (AO)put away pain[f] from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Remember Your Creator in Your Youth
12 Remember also your Creator in (AP)the days of your youth, before (AQ)the evil days come and the years draw near of which (AR)you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before (AS)the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and (AT)those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and (AU)the doors on the street are shut—when (AV)the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all (AW)the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and (AX)terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,[g] and desire fails, because man is going to his (AY)eternal (AZ)home, and the (BA)mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or (BB)the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is (BC)shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and (BD)the dust returns to the earth as it was, and (BE)the spirit returns to God (BF)who gave it. 8 (BG)Vanity[h] of vanities, says (BH)the Preacher; all is vanity.
Fear God and Keep His Commandments
9 Besides being wise, (BI)the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging (BJ)many proverbs with great care. 10 (BK)The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
11 (BL)The words of the wise are like goads, and like (BM)nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are (BN)given by (BO)one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making (BP)many books there is no end, and (BQ)much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. (BR)Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.[i] 14 For (BS)God will bring every deed into judgment, with[j] every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:4 Hebrew healing
- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Or wisdom is an advantage for success
- Ecclesiastes 10:12 Or are gracious
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Targum; most Hebrew manuscripts As you do not know the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb
- Ecclesiastes 11:8 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verse 10 (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Or evil
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 Or is a burden
- Ecclesiastes 12:8 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (three times in this verse); see note on 1:2
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 Or the duty of all mankind
- Ecclesiastes 12:14 Or into the judgment on
Ecclesiastes 10-12
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10-12
New International Version
10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly(A) outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
3 Even as fools walk along the road,
they lack sense
and show everyone(B) how stupid they are.
4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;(C)
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.(D)
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6 Fools are put in many high positions,(E)
while the rich occupy the low ones.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.(F)
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;(G)
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(H)
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.(I)
10 If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.(J)
12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,(K)
but fools are consumed by their own lips.(L)
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness—
14 and fools multiply words.(M)
No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?(N)
15 The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.
16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant[a](O)
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.(P)
18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.(Q)
19 A feast is made for laughter,
wine(R) makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not revile the king(S) even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
Invest in Many Ventures
11 Ship(T) your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.(U)
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,(V)
or how the body is formed[b] in a mother’s womb,(W)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,(X)
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Remember Your Creator While Young
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(Y)
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(Z) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.(AA)
10 So then, banish anxiety(AB) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.(AC)
12 Remember(AD) your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble(AE) come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;(AF)
5 when people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(AG)
and mourners(AH) go about the streets.
6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns(AI) to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God(AJ) who gave it.(AK)
The Conclusion of the Matter
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(AN) 10 The Teacher(AO) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.(AP)
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails(AQ)—given by one shepherd.[d] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.(AR)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:16 Or king is a child
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being formed
- Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10
- Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or Shepherd
Acts 10:24-48
English Standard Version
Acts 10:24-48
English Standard Version
24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and (A)fell down at his feet and (B)worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, (C)“Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew (D)to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but (E)God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
30 And Cornelius said, (F)“Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at (G)the ninth hour,[a] and behold, (H)a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, (I)your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that (J)God (K)shows no partiality, 35 but (L)in every nation anyone who fears him and (M)does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for (N)the word that he sent to Israel, (O)preaching good news of (P)peace through Jesus Christ ((Q)he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, (R)beginning (S)from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how (T)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth (U)with the Holy Spirit and with (V)power. He went about doing good and healing all (W)who were oppressed by the devil, (X)for God was with him. 39 And (Y)we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. (Z)They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but (AA)God raised him on (AB)the third day and made him to (AC)appear, 41 (AD)not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as (AE)witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And (AF)he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify (AG)that he is the one appointed by God to be judge (AH)of the living and the dead. 43 (AI)To him (AJ)all the prophets bear witness that (AK)everyone who believes in him receives (AL)forgiveness of sins (AM)through his name.”
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still saying these things, (AN)the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among (AO)the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because (AP)the gift of the Holy Spirit (AQ)was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them (AR)speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 (AS)“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit (AT)just as we have?” 48 And he (AU)commanded them (AV)to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 10:30 That is, 3 p.m.
Acts 10:24-48
New International Version
Acts 10:24-48
New International Version
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(A) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”(B)
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(C) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(D) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(E) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(F) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism(G) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(H) 36 You know the message(I) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(J) of peace(K) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(L) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(M) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(N) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(O)
39 “We are witnesses(P) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,(Q) 40 but God raised him from the dead(R) on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,(S) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate(T) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people(U) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.(V) 43 All the prophets testify about him(W) that everyone(X) who believes(Y) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(Z)
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on(AA) all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter(AB) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out(AC) even on Gentiles.(AD) 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[a](AE) and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.(AF) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”(AG) 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.(AH) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Footnotes
- Acts 10:46 Or other languages
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.