Ecclesiastes 10 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 10 ▼
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BLB
Berean Literal Bible
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English Standard Version
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1 Dead flies rising up in the ointment of a perfumer give a stench; a little folly is heavier than wisdom and honor. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of a wise one is to his right, and the heart of a fool to his left. A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
3 And even in a fool walking along the way, his heart is lacking, and he shows to everyone that he is a fool. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, you should not leave your station, for calmness puts to rest great sins. If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, as an error that goes forth from before the face of the ruler: There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6 He has set a fool in many high places, and the rich ones sit in the lowly place. folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking like slaves on the earth. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 The one digging a pit will fall into it; and one breaking through a wall, a snake will bite him. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 The one pulling out stones will be hurt by them; the one splitting trees endangers himself by them. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
10 If the iron has been blunt, and he has not sharpened the edge, then he must exert strength; and wisdom is an advantage to being successful. If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
11 If the snake bites without a charm, then there is no advantage for the master of the tongue. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise one are favor, and the lips of a fool will swallow him up— The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
13 the beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his mouth is evil madness. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—
14 And the fool multiplies words. Man does not know what will come to be, and of what will come to be after him, who can declare it to him? A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
15 The toil of fools wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.
16 Woe to you, O land, that your king is a youth, and your princes feast in the morning! Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed are you, O land, that your king is a son of nobles, and your princes feast in due season—for strength and not for drunkenness! 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 drunkenness! Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 By laziness, the rafter is made to sink, and by idleness of hands, the house leaks. Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry—and the silver is the answer to all. Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
20 Even in your thought you must not belittle the king, and in the chambers of your bed do not belittle the rich, for a bird of the heavens may carry along your voice, and a possessor of wings may declare the word. Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter. Do not revile the king 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.
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