Ecclesiastes 10
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1Dead 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.
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3Yea 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.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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 is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because 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!
17Blessed 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 much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20Curse 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.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- לֹאlôʼH38085× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- דָּבָרdâbârH16974× in this chapter
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
- הָלַךְhâlakH19804× in this chapter
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
- כְּסִילkᵉçîylH36843× in this chapter
properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
- לֵבlêbH38203× in this chapter
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
- אַלʼalH4083× in this chapter
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
- מֶלֶךְmelekH44283× in this chapter
a king
- אִםʼimH5183× in this chapter
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
- סָכָלçâkâlH55303× in this chapter
silly
- עַלʻalH59213× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- פֶּהpehH63103× in this chapter
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
- קָלַלqâlalH70433× in this chapter
to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)
- אֶרֶץʼeretsH7763× in this chapter
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
- שַׂרsarH82693× in this chapter
a head person (of any rank or class)
- בַּעַלbaʻalH11672× in this chapter
a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)
- גַּםgamH15712× in this chapter
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
- הוּאhûwʼH19312× in this chapter
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
- הָיָהhâyâhH19612× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- חָכָםchâkâmH24502× in this chapter
wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
- חׇכְמָהchokmâhH24512× in this chapter
wisdom (in a good sense)
- יָדַעyâdaʻH30452× in this chapter
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
- יִתְרוֹןyithrôwnH35042× in this chapter
preeminence, gain
- כִּיkîyH35882× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- כֹּלkôlH36052× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- אָכַלʼâkalH3982× in this chapter
to eat (literally or figuratively)
- נָגַדnâgadH50462× in this chapter
properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise
- נוּחַnûwachH51172× in this chapter
to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.)
- נָחָשׁnâchâshH51752× in this chapter
a snake (from its hiss)
- נָשַׁךְnâshakH53912× in this chapter
to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan
- סִכְלוּתçiklûwthH55312× in this chapter
silliness
- עֶבֶדʻebedH56502× in this chapter
a servant
- עָשִׁירʻâshîyrH62232× in this chapter
rich, whether literal or figurative (noble)
- פָּנִיםpânîymH64402× in this chapter
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
- רָאָהrâʼâhH72002× in this chapter
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
- רַעraʻH74512× in this chapter
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH8342× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- אֵתʼêthH8532× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- בַּיִתbayithH10041× in this chapter
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
- בָּלַעbâlaʻH11041× in this chapter
to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy
- בֵּןbênH11211× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)