Ecclesiastes 10 (NET)

Ecclesiastes 10:1¹One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:2²A wise person’s good sense protects him, but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:3³Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:4⁴If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:5⁵I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:6⁶Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:7⁷I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:8⁸One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:9⁹One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:10¹⁰If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:11¹¹If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:12¹²The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:13¹³At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:14¹⁴yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:15¹⁵The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:16¹⁶Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:17¹⁷Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time —with self-control and not in drunkenness.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:18¹⁸Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:19¹⁹Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s

Ecclesiastes 10:20²⁰Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’s