Ecclesiastes 10
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Miscellaneous Observations
10 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense,
and show to everyone that they are fools.
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post,
for calmness will undo great offenses.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
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.
12 Words spoken by the wise bring them favor,
but the lips of fools consume them.
13 The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,
and their talk ends in wicked madness;
14 yet fools talk on and on.
No one knows what is to happen,
and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
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 servant,[a]
and your princes feast in the morning!
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!
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19 Feasts are made for laughter;
wine gladdens life,
and money meets every need.
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.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:16 Or a child
Ecclesiastes 10
New Life Version
10 Dead flies make a perfume maker’s oil smell bad. So does acting a little foolish weigh more than wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart leads him toward the right. But the foolish man’s heart leads him toward the left. 3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he has little understanding and shows everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the ruler becomes angry with you, do not back away. If you are quiet, much wrong-doing may be put aside.
5 There is a sin I have seen under the sun, like a mistake done by a ruler: 6 Fools are put in many places of honor, while rich men sit in places that are not important. 7 I have seen servants riding on horses, and princes walking like servants on the land.
8 He who digs a deep hole may fall into it. And a snake may bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who cuts stones may be hurt by them. And he who cuts trees may be in danger by them. 10 If the ax is not sharp and he does not make it sharp, then he must use more strength. Wisdom helps one to do well. 11 If the snake bites before it is put under a man’s power, it will not be of help to the man who would have power over it. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are kind, but the lips of a fool destroy him. 13 The beginning of his talking is foolish, and the end of it is sinful and crazy. 14 Yet the fool speaks many words. No man knows what will happen. And who can tell him what will come after him? 15 The work of a fool makes him so tired that he does not even know the way to a city. 16 It is bad for you, O land, when your king is a child and your princes eat too much in the morning. 17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is from parents who have ruled, and your princes eat at the right time, for strength and not to get drunk. 18 When men are lazy, the roof begins to fall in. When they will do no work, the rain comes into the house. 19 Food is made ready to be enjoyed, wine makes life happy, but money is the answer to everything. 20 Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich man in your bedroom because a bird of the heavens will carry your voice and an animal with wings will make it known.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Ang Bagong Tipan: Filipino Standard Version, Copyright © Philippine Bible Society 2009.
