27 Just then (A)his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man (B)who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, (C)“Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, (D)“Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, (E)“My food is (F)to do the will of him who sent me and (G)to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that (H)the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that (I)sower and (J)reaper (K)may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, (L)‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap (M)that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, (N)and you have entered into their labor.”

39 Many Samaritans (O)from that town believed in him (P)because of (Q)the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed (R)because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, (S)and we know that this is indeed (T)the Savior (U)of the world.”

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10 Dead flies make (A)the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
(B)A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
    but a fool's heart to the left.
Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
    and he (C)says to everyone that he is a fool.
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.

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were (F)an error proceeding from the ruler: (G)folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. (H)I have seen slaves (I)on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

He who (J)digs a pit will fall into it,
    and (K)a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
(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.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:4 Hebrew healing
  2. Ecclesiastes 10:10 Or wisdom is an advantage for success
  3. Ecclesiastes 10:12 Or are gracious

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