Ecclesiastes 10 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 10 ▼
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1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: <i>so doth</i> a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom <i>and</i> honour. Dead flies turn a perfumer’s oil rancid, <i>so</i> a little foolishness is more potent than wisdom <i>and</i> honor. As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. A wise man's heart <i>is</i> at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. A wise person’s heart <i>directs him</i> toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart <i>directs him</i> toward the left. The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows 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. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth <i>him</i>, and he saith to every one <i>that</i> he <i>is</i> a fool. Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he demonstrates to everyone <i>that</i> he is a fool. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest. If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your place, because composure puts 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— an error that proceeds from 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>which</i> I have seen under the sun, as an error <i>which</i> proceedeth from the ruler: There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler: There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions. folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. foolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places. Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. I have seen slaves <i>riding</i> on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. One who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite one 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 who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; <i>and</i> he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them. Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success. 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 iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom <i>is</i> profitable to direct. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen <i>its</i> edge, then he must exert <i>more</i> strength. Wisdom <i>has</i> the advantage of bringing success. If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer. If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The words of a wise man's mouth <i>are</i> gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while 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 his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. The beginning of the words of his mouth <i>is</i> foolishness: and the end of his talk <i>is</i> mischievous madness. the beginning of his talking is foolishness, and the end of it is evil insanity. At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him? A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? Yet the fool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come 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 a fool 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 labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. The labor of a fool makes him <i>so</i> weary that he does not <i>even</i> know how to go to a city. The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose 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 thee, O land, when thy king <i>is</i> a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! Woe to you, land whose king is a boy, and whose 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 whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— 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 <i>art</i> thou, O land, when thy king <i>is</i> the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! Blessed are you, land whose king is of nobility, and whose princes eat at the appropriate 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 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks. Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. Through extreme laziness the rafters sag, and through idleness the house leaks. Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all <i>things</i>. <i>People</i> prepare a meal for enjoyment, wine makes life joyful, and money is the answer to everything. A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
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 words, and a winged creature may report your speech. 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. Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. Furthermore, in your bedroom do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich person; for a bird of the sky will bring the sound, and the winged one will make <i>your</i> word known. 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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