Ecclesiastes 10:4-11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your place,(A)
for calmness puts great offenses to rest.(B)
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
6 The fool is appointed to great heights,(C)
but the rich remain in lowly positions.
7 I have seen slaves on horses,(D)
but princes walking on the ground like slaves.(E)
8 The one who digs a pit may fall into it,(F)
and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(G)
9 The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;
the one who splits trees may be endangered by them.
10 If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,
then one must exert more strength;
however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed,(H)
then there is no advantage for the charmer.[a]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:11 Lit master of the tongue
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