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The Blue Letter Bible

Ecclesiastes 10 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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The Burden of Folly
Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:1 -

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:2 -

A wise person’s heart goes to the[fn] right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:3 -

Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,

and he shows everyone he is a fool.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:4 -

If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your post,

for calmness puts great offenses to rest.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:5 -

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:6 -

The fool is appointed to great heights,

but the rich remain in lowly positions.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:7 -

I have seen slaves on horses,

but princes walking on the ground like slaves.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:8 -

The one who digs a pit may fall into it,

and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:9 -

The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;

the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:10 -

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.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:11 -

If the snake bites before it is charmed,

then there is no advantage for the charmer.[fn]

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:12 -

The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious,

but the lips of a fool consume him.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:13 -

The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly,

but the end of his speaking is evil madness;

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:14 -

yet the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what will happen,

and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:15 -

The struggles of fools weary them,

for they don’t know how to go to the city.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:16 -

Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth

and your princes feast in the morning.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:17 -

Blessed 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:18 -

Because of laziness the roof caves in,

and because of negligent hands the house leaks.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:19 -

A feast is prepared for laughter,

and wine makes life happy,

and money[fn] is the answer for everything.

Unchecked Copy BoxEcc 10:20 -

Do 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.

CSB Footnotes
Lit his
Lit master of the tongue
Lit silver
CSB

Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Additional information is provided here.

For more information on this translation, see the CSB Preface.

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Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 — Additional Translations: