Ecclesiastes 10:8-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.(A)
9 Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them,
and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
10 If the iron is blunt and one does not whet the edge,
then more strength must be exerted,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage in a charmer.(B)
12 Words spoken by the wise bring them favor,
but the lips of fools consume them.(C)
13 The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,
and their talk ends in wicked madness,(D)
14 yet fools talk on and on.
No one knows what is to happen,
and who can tell anyone what the future holds?(E)
15 The toil of fools wears them out,
for they do not even know the way to town.
16 Alas for you, O land, when your king is a child
and your princes feast in the morning!(F)
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman,
and your princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness!(G)
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.(H)
19 Feasts are made for laughter,
wine gladdens life,
and money meets every need.(I)
20 Do 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 voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.(J)
Ecclesiastes 10:8-20
New International Version
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;(A)
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(B)
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.(C)
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.(D)
12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,(E)
but fools are consumed by their own lips.(F)
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness—
14 and fools multiply words.(G)
No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?(H)
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](I)
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.(J)
18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.(K)
19 A feast is made for laughter,
wine(L) makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not revile the king(M) 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.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:16 Or king is a child
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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