ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 10 (ORIGINAL 1611 KJV)

The actual, original, first printing of the 1611 King James Version (‘HE’ Bible) — Ecclesiastes Chapter 10.

Why strange spelling? View larger scans Text-only version Standard KJV

Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 Original 1611 KJV Bible Scan

CHAP. X.

1 Obseruations of Wisedome and folly. 16 Of Riot, 18 Slouthfulnesse, 19 and Money. 20 Mens thoughts of Kings ought to bee reuerend.

¹ Dead flies cause the oyntment of the Apothecarie to send foorth a stinking sauour: so doeth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisedome and honour.¹

² A wise mans heart is at his right hand: but a fooles heart at his left.

³ Yea also when hee that is a foole walketh by the way, his wisedome faileth him, and hee saith to euery one that he is a foole.³

⁴ If the spirit of the ruler rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place; for yeelding pacifieth great offences.

⁵ There is an euill which I haue seene vnder the Sunne, as an errour, which proceedeth from the ruler.⁵

⁶ Folly is set in great dignitie; and the rich sit in lowe place.⁶

⁷ I haue seene seruants vpon horses, and princes walking as seruants vpon the earth.⁷

⁸ He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it; and who so breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.⁸

⁹ Who so remoueth stones, shall be hurt therewith: and hee that cleaueth wood, shalbe endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the yron be blunt, and he doe not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisedome is profitable to direct.

¹¹ Surely the serpent will bite without inchauntment, and a babbler is no better.¹¹

¹² The words of a wise mans mouth are gratious: but the lips of a foole will swallow vp himselfe.¹²

¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnesse: and the end of his talke is mischieuous madnesse.¹³

¹⁴ A foole also is full of words; a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall bee after him who can tell him?¹⁴

¹⁵ The labour of the foolish wearyeth euery one of them; because hee knoweth not how to goe to the citie.

¹⁶ ¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eate in the morning.¹⁶

¹⁷ Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in due season, for strength, and not for drunkennesse.

¹⁸ ¶ By much slouthfulnesse the building decayeth; and through idlenesse of the hands the house droppeth through.

¹⁹ ¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.¹⁹

²⁰ ¶ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the aire shall carry the voyce, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.²⁰

Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 Sidenote References (from Original 1611 KJV Bible)

¹ Hebr. flies of death.
³ Heb. his heart.
⁵ Heb. from before.
⁶ Heb. in great heights.
⁷ Prou. 30. 22.
⁸ Psal.7.16. prou.26.27
¹¹ Heb. the master of the tongue.
¹² Prou.10. 32. and 12. 13. , Heb. grace.
¹³ Heb. his mouth.
¹⁴ Prou. 15. 2. , Heb. multiplieth words. , Chap.3. 21. and 6. 12.
¹⁶ Isa.3.3,4.
¹⁹ Psal.104. 15. , Heb. maketh glad the life.
²⁰ Exod.22. 28. , Or, conscience.

* Some content on this page courtesy of Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania

King James Bible Online

Ecclesiastes

King James Version (KJV)