Ecclesiastes 10
Berean Standard BibleTranslation
Berean Standard Bible
Septuagint (Brenton Greek text, with Apocrypha)
1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
1Μυῖαι θανατοῦσαι σαπριοῦσι σκευασίαν ἐλαίου ἡδύσματος· τίμιον ὀλίγον σοφίας ὑπὲρ δόξαν ἀφροσύνης μεγάλην.
2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
2Καρδία σοφοῦ εἰς δεξιὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ καρδία ἄφρονος εἰς ἀριστερὸν αὐτοῦ.
3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
3Καί γε ἐν ὁδῷ ὅταν ἄφρων πορεύηται, καρδία αὐτοῦ ὑστερήσει, καὶ ἃ λογιεῖται πάντα ἀφροσύνη ἐστίν.
4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
4Ἐὰν πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐξουσιάζοντος ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ σὲ, τόπον σου μὴ ἀφῇς, ὅτι ἴαμα καταπαύσει ἁμαρτίας μεγάλας.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
5Ἔστι πονηρία ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὡς ἀκούσιον ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ προσώπου ἐξουσιάζοντος.
6Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
6Ἐδόθη ὁ ἄφρων ἐν ὕψεσι μεγάλοις, καὶ πλούσιοι ἐν ταπεινῷ καθήσονται.
7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
7Εἶδον δούλους ἐφʼ ἵππους, καὶ ἄρχοντας πορευομένους ὡς δούλους ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
8Ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον, εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται· καὶ καθαιροῦντα φραγμὸν, δήξεται αὐτὸν ὄφις,
9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
9Ἐξαίρων λίθους, διαπονηθήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς· σχίζων ξύλα, κινδυνεύσει ἐν αὐτοῖς.
10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
10Ἐὰν ἐκπέσῃ τὸ σιδήριον, καὶ αὐτὸς πρόσωπον ἐτάραξε· καὶ δυνάμεις δυναμώσει, καὶ περίσσεια τῷ ἀνδρὶ οὐ σοφία.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
11Ἐὰν δάκῃ ὄφις ἐν οὐ ψιθυρισμῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περίσσεια τῷ ἐπᾴδοντι.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
12Λόγοι στόματος σοφοῦ χάρις, καὶ χείλη ἄφρονος καταποντιοῦσιν αὐτόν.
13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
13Ἀρχὴ λόγων στόματος αὐτοῦ ἀφροσύνη, καὶ ἐσχάτη στόματος αὐτοῦ περιφέρεια πονηρὰ,
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
14καὶ ὁ ἄφρων πληθύνει λόγους· οὐκ ἔγνω ἄνθρωπος τί τὸ γενόμενον, καὶ τί τὸ ἐσόμενον, ὅ, τι ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ τίς ἀναγγελεῖ αὐτῷ;
15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
15Μόχθος τῶν ἀφρόνων κακώσει αὐτοὺς, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς πόλιν.
16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
16Οὐαί σοι πόλις ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου νεώτερος, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρωῒ ἐσθίουσι.
17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
17Μακαρία σὺ γῆ, ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου υἱὸς ἐλευθέρων, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρὸς καιρὸν φάγονται ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσονται.
18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
18Ἐν ὀκνηρίαις ταπεινωθήσεται ἡ δόκωσις, καὶ ἐν ἀργίᾳ χειρῶν στάξει ἡ οἰκία.
19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
19Εἰς γέλωτα ποιοῦσιν ἄρτον, καὶ οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι ζῶντας, καὶ τοῦ ἀργυρίου ταπεινώσει ἐπακούσεται τὰ πάντα.
20Do 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 words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
20Καί γε ἐν συνειδήσει σου βασιλέα μὴ καταράσῃ, καὶ ἐν ταμιείοις κοιτώνων σου μὴ καταράσῃ πλούσιον· ὅτι πετεινὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀποίσει τὴν φωνήν σου, καὶ ὁ ἔχων τὰς πτέρυγας ἀπαγγελεῖ λόγον σου.
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