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Ecclesiastes 10
Jubilee Bible 2000
Ecclesiastes 10
Jubilee Bible 2000
10 ¶ Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: likewise a small act of folly unto him that is esteemed for wisdom and honour.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Even when the fool walks by the way, he lacks prudence, and he says unto every one that he is a fool.
4 ¶ If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, do not leave thy place; for meekness pacifies great sins.
5 There is another evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich are seated in a low place.
7 I saw slaves upon horses, and princes walking as slaves upon the earth.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it, and whosoever breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whosoever moves the stones shall have tribulation along with it, and he that cuts the firewood shall be endangered by it.
10 If the iron is blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must put forth more strength, but the advantages of wisdom excel.
11 If the serpent bites without being enchanted, then the babbler is no more.
12 ¶ The words from the mouth of the wise man are grace, but the lips of the fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 The fool multiplies words and says, Man cannot tell what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labour of the foolish wearies all of them because they do not know how to go to the city.
16 ¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes banquet in the morning!
17 Blessed 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!
18 By much slothfulness the building decays, and through idleness of the hands the rain drips throughout the house.
19 The banquet is made for pleasure, and wine makes merry; but money answers all things.
20 Do not curse the king, not even in thy thought; and do not curse the rich even in the secret place of thy bedchamber; for the birds of the air shall carry the voice, and those who have wings shall tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 10
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10
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.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:16 Or king is a child
Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)
Copyright © 2013, 2020 by Ransom Press International
New International Version (NIV) 
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