Ecclesiastes 10

NIV — New International Version Bible (NIV)

NASB — New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Verse 1

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

Verse 2

The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.

A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.

Verse 3

Even as fools walk along the road,
they lack sense
and show everyone how stupid they are.

Even when the fool walks along the road, his ^[a]sense is lacking and he ^[b]demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

Verse 4

If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

If the ruler’s ^[c]temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.

Verse 5

There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—

Verse 6

Fools are put in many high positions,
while the rich occupy the low ones.

folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

Verse 7

I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.

I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

Verse 8

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.

Verse 9

Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

Verse 10

If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.

If the ^[d]axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must ^[e]exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

Verse 11

If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.

If the serpent bites ^[f]before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

Verse 12

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
but fools are consumed by their own lips.

Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

Verse 13

At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness—

the beginning of ^[g]his talking is folly and the end of ^[h]it is wicked madness.

Verse 14

and fools multiply words.

No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

Verse 15

The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.

The toil of ^[i]a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

Verse 16

Woe to the land whose king was a servant^[a]
and whose princes feast in the morning.

Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes ^[j]feast in the morning.

Verse 17

Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.

Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

Verse 18

Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.

Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.

Verse 19

A feast is made for laughter,
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.

Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money ^[k]is the answer to everything.

Verse 20

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.

Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.