Ecclesiastes 10
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNew American Standard Bible 1995
1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.
2A wise man's heart goes to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. 2A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.
3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool. 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the ruler's anger rises against you, don't leave your place, for calmness puts great offenses to rest. 4If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler: 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--
6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. 6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves. 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.
9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits trees may be endangered by them. 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If 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. 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness. 13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don't know how to go to the city. 15The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning. 16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time-- for strength and not for drunkenness. 17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness.
18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. 18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything. 19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.
20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter. 20Furthermore, 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.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org
Ecclesiastes 9
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