Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10 in full

King James Version, 20 verses. Tap a reference to link straight to a single verse.

1. Eccl 10:1

   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.

2. Eccl 10:2

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

3. Eccl 10:3

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

4. Eccl 10:4

   If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

5. Eccl 10:5

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

6. Eccl 10:6

   Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

7. Eccl 10:7

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

8. Eccl 10:8

   He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9. Eccl 10:9

   Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

10. Eccl 10:10

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

11. Eccl 10:11

    Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12. Eccl 10:12

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

13. Eccl 10:13

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

14. Eccl 10:14

    A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

15. Eccl 10:15

    The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16. Eccl 10:16

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

17. Eccl 10:17

    Blessed 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!

18. Eccl 10:18

    By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19. Eccl 10:19

    A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

20. Eccl 10:20

    Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Keep reading

Ecclesiastes 10 is part of Ecclesiastes, book 21 of the 66 in the King James Bible. Read the 12 chapters straight through, or search any word across all 66 books.