Devine Scripture
Ecclesiastes 10

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Ecclesiastes 10

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1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.

5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

6folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.

9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.

20Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

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Parallel translations · Ecclesiastes 10:1

WEB · World English Bible (2000)

Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

KJV · King James Version (1611)

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

ASV · American Standard Version (1901)

Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

BBE · Bible in Basic English (1949)

Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.

YLT · Young's Literal Translation (1862)

Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom--By reason of honour--a little folly!

DRA · Douay-Rheims (Challoner) (1752)

Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.

DBY · Darby Bible (1890)

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

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Key cross-references

From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — verses that illuminate Ecclesiastes 10:1.

  • Exodus 30:34

    And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight;

  • Nehemiah 13:26

    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.

  • Galatians 2:12

    For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

  • Exodus 30:25

    and thou shalt make it a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil.

  • Matthew 5:13

    Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.

  • 2 Chronicles 19:2

    And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate Jehovah? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before Jehovah.

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Ecclesiastes 11 →

"Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days."