Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes · Chapter 10

Ecclesiastes 10:19

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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
for laughterלִשְׂחוֹק֙lis-chOkH7814
laughter

שְׂחֹק (se.choq) 1) laughter, laughing stock, mocking, derision 1a) laughter 1a1) joyful 1a2) hollow 1b) derision (of object) 1c) sport

[people are] makingעֹשִׂ֣ים'o-SIMH6213H
to make

עֲבַד (a.vad) 1) to make, do 1a)(P'al) 1a1) to make, create 1a2) to do, perform 1b) (Ithp'al) 1b1) to be made into 1b2) to be done, be wrought, be performed, be executed, be carried out

foodלֶ֔חֶםLE-chemH3899H
food

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) : food(eating) 1) bread, food, grain 1a) bread 1a1) bread 1a2) bread-corn 1b) food (in general)

and wineוְיַ֖יִןve-YA-yinH3196
wine

יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) wine

it makes gladיְשַׂמַּ֣חye-sa-MACHH8055
to rejoice

שָׂמַח (sa.mach) 1) to rejoice, be glad 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rejoice 1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at) 1a3) to rejoice (religiously) 1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad

lifeחַיִּ֑יםchai-YIMH2416E
life

חַיִּים (chay.yim) 1) life (abstract emphatic) 1a) life 1b) sustenance, maintenance

and the moneyוְהַכֶּ֖סֶףve-ha-KE-sefH3701G
silver: money

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents

it answersיַעֲנֶ֥הya-'a-NEHH6030B
to answer

עָנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to answer, respond to 1a2) to testify, respond as a witness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to make answer 1b2) to be answered, receive answer Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)

the everythingהַכֹּֽל׃ha-KOLH3605
all

כֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.