Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 10"

Ecclesiastes 10

New Revised Standard NRS

1 Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

3 Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense, and show to everyone that they are fools.

4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness will undo great offenses.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler:

6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.

7 I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.

8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.

9 Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them; and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.

10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed.

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.

12 Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them.

13 The words of their mouths begin in foolishness, and their talk ends in wicked madness;

14 yet fools talk on and on. No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds?

15 The toil of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town.

16 Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, and your princes feast in the morning!

17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman, and your princes feast at the proper time— for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.

19 Feasts are made for laughter; wine gladdens life, and money meets every need.

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 voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.

The Message Bible MSG

1 Dead flies in perfume make it stink, And a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom.

2 Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.

3 Fools on the road have no sense of direction. The way they walk tells the story: "There goes the fool again!"

4 If a ruler loses his temper against you, don't panic; A calm disposition quiets intemperate rage.

5 Here's a piece of bad business I've seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge:

6 Immaturity is given a place of prominence, While maturity is made to take a back seat.

7 I've seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture.

8 Caution: The trap you set might catch you. Warning: Your accomplice in crime might double-cross you.

9 Safety first: Quarrying stones is dangerous. Be alert: Felling trees is hazardous.

10 Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work; Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle.

11 If the snake bites before it's been charmed, What's the point in then sending for the charmer?

12 The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs -

13 He starts out talking nonsense And ends up spouting insanity and evil.

14 Fools talk way too much, Chattering stuff they know nothing about.

15 A decent day's work so fatigues fools That they can't find their way back to town.

16 Unlucky the land whose king is a young pup, And whose princes party all night.

17 Lucky the land whose king is mature, Where the princes behave themselves And don't drink themselves silly.

18 A shiftless man lives in a tumbledown shack; A lazy woman ends up with a leaky roof.

19 Laughter and bread go together, And wine gives sparkle to life - But it's money that makes the world go around.

20 Don't bad-mouth your leaders, not even under your breath, And don't abuse your betters, even in the privacy of your home. Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around. Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide.