Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. New Living Translation Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. English Standard Version If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. Berean Standard Bible If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success. King James Bible If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. New King James Version If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. New American Standard Bible If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success. NASB 1995 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. NASB 1977 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. Legacy Standard Bible If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. Amplified Bible If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort]. Christian Standard Bible 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. Holman Christian Standard Bible 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. American Standard Version If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. Contemporary English Version If you don't sharpen your ax, it will be harder to use; if you are wise, you'll know what to do. English Revised Version If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. GOD'S WORD® Translation If an ax is blunt and the edge isn't sharpened, then one has to use more strength. But wisdom prepares the way for success. Good News Translation If your ax is dull and you don't sharpen it, you have to work harder to use it. It is smarter to plan ahead. International Standard Version If someone's ax is blunt—the edge isn't sharpened— then more strength will be needed. Putting wisdom to work will bring success. Majority Standard Bible If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success. NET Bible If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success. New Heart English Bible If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success. Webster's Bible Translation If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. World English Bible If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIf the iron has been blunt, "" And he has not sharpened the face, "" Then he increases strength, "" And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right. Young's Literal Translation If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom is advantageous to make right. Smith's Literal Translation If the iron became dull and he polished not the face, and he will strengthen the forces: and wisdom will make preeminence to prosper. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom. Catholic Public Domain Version If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence. New American Bible If the ax becomes dull, and the blade is not sharpened, then effort must be increased. But the advantage of wisdom is success. New Revised Standard Version If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleJust as the edge of a weapon may be blunt, and not sharpened, and yet may cause many to be slain, so wisdom is more advantageous to those who are diligent. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated If the iron is dull and the surface is rough and it multiplies those killed, also wisdom is a profit for diligent ones OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If the iron be blunt, And one do not whet the edge, Then must he put to more strength; But wisdom is profitable to direct. Brenton Septuagint Translation If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Wisdom and Folly…9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself. 10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.… Cross References Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. Proverbs 3:13-14 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, / for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. Proverbs 8:1-2 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? / On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand. Proverbs 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 16:16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Ephesians 5:15-16 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, / redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Treasury of Scripture If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. wisdom Ecclesiastes 10:15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. Ecclesiastes 9:15-17 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man… Genesis 41:33-39 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt… Jump to Previous Advantage Advantageous Apply Ax Axe Blunt Direct Dull Edge Exert Face Forth Helps Increase Iron Makes Needed Profitable Right Sharp Sharpen Sharpened Skill Strength Succeed Success Use Whet WisdomJump to Next Advantage Advantageous Apply Ax Axe Blunt Direct Dull Edge Exert Face Forth Helps Increase Iron Makes Needed Profitable Right Sharp Sharpen Sharpened Skill Strength Succeed Success Use Whet WisdomEcclesiastes 10 1. observations of wisdom and folly7. death in life 9. and the day of judgment in the days of youth, are to be thought on If the ax is dull The imagery of a dull ax is a powerful metaphor for inefficiency and lack of preparation. In the Hebrew context, the word for "dull" (קֵהֶה, "qeh") implies a blunted or ineffective tool. This can be seen as a reflection on the importance of maintaining one's spiritual and practical tools in life. Just as a dull ax cannot effectively cut wood, a life not sharpened by wisdom and understanding cannot effectively fulfill its purpose. The ax represents the tools and resources God provides, and it is our responsibility to keep them sharp through prayer, study, and righteous living. and its blade unsharpened more strength is needed but skill will bring success Iron.--2Kings 6:5; Isaiah 10:34; Proverbs 27:17. Whet.--Ezekiel 21:21, where it is translated "make bright." Edge.--Literally, face. We have often in Hebrew "mouth of the sword," for edge of the sword, but the only parallel for the expression "face" in that sense is in the highly poetical passage in Ezekiel 21:16, just referred to. . . . Verse 10. - If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge. The illustration at the end of the last verse is continued. The "iron" is the axe used in cutting wood; if this be blunted by the work to which it is put, and he, the laborer, has not sharpened the edge (Hebrew, the face, as in Ezekiel 21:1), what is the consequence? How is he to carry on his work? Then must he put to more strength. He must put more force in his blows, he must make up for the want of edge by added power and weight. This is the simplest explanation of the passage, which contains many linguistic difficulties. These may be seen discussed at length in the commentaries of Delitzsch, Wright, Nowack, etc. The translation of Ginsburg is not commendable, "If the axe be blunt, and he (the tyrant's opponent)do not sharpen it beforehand (phanim, taken as an adverb of time), he (the tyrant) shall only increase the army." The Septuagint is obscure, Ἐὰν ἐκπέσῃ τὸ σιδήριον καὶ αὐτὸς πρόσωπον ἐτάραξε καὶ δυνάμεις δυναμώσει, "If the axe should fall, then he troubles his face, and he shall strengthen his forces (? double his strength);" Vulgate, Si retusum fuerit ferrurn, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum fuerit, multo labore exacuetur, "If the iron shall be blunted, and it be not as before, but have become dull, it shall be sharpened with much labor." But wisdom is profitable to direct; rather, the advantage of setting right is (on the side of) wisdom. Wisdom teaches how to conduct matters to a successful termination; for instance, it prompts the worker to sharpen his tool instead of trying to accomplish his task by an exertion of mere brute strength. The gnome applies to all the instances which have been mentioned above. Wisdom alone enables a man to meet and overcome the dangers and difficulties which beset his social, common, and political life. If we apply the whole sentence to the case of disaffection with the government or open rebellion, the caution given would signify - See that your means are adequate to the end, that your resources are sufficient to conduct your enterprise to success. Septuagint Vatican, Καὶ περίσσεια τῷ ἀνδρὶ οὐ σοφία, "And the advantage to man is not wisdom." But manuscripts A and C read, Καὶ περισσεια τοῦ αηνδρίου σοφία: Vulgate, Post industriam sequetur sapientia, "After industry shall follow wisdom."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not the ax הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל (hab·bar·zel) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1270: Iron, an iron implement is dull קֵהָ֣ה (qê·hāh) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6949: To be blunt or dull and וְהוּא֙ (wə·hū) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are the blade פָנִ֣ים (p̄ā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6440: The face unsharpened, קִלְקַ֔ל (qil·qal) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling more strength וַחֲיָלִ֖ים (wa·ḥă·yā·lîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength must be exerted, יְגַבֵּ֑ר (yə·ḡab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1396: To be strong, to prevail, act insolently but skill חָכְמָֽה׃ (ḥāḵ·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2451: Wisdom will produce וְיִתְר֥וֹן (wə·yiṯ·rō·wn) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3504: Preeminence, gain success. הַכְשֵׁ֖רהכשירהַכְשֵׁ֖ר (haḵ·šêr) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 3787: To be advantageous, proper, or suitable, to succeed Links Ecclesiastes 10:10 NIVEcclesiastes 10:10 NLT Ecclesiastes 10:10 ESV Ecclesiastes 10:10 NASB Ecclesiastes 10:10 KJV Ecclesiastes 10:10 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 10:10 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 10:10 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 10:10 French Bible Ecclesiastes 10:10 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the axe is blunt and one (Ecclesiast. 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