Translation comparison

Ecclesiastes 10

20 aligned verses; 20 with wording or punctuation differences .

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Verse YLT Young's Literal Translation BSB Berean Standard Bible
Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly !
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
The heart of the wise `is' at his right hand , And the heart of a fool at his left.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way , his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, ` He ` is ' a fool. '
Even as the fool walks along the road , his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee , Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners .
If the ruler’s temper flares against you , do not abandon your post , for calmness lays great offenses to rest .
There is an evil I have seen under the sun , As an error that goeth out from the ruler ,
There is an evil I have seen under the sun an error that proceeds from the ruler :
He hath set the fool in many high places , And the rich in a low place do sit.
Folly is appointed to great heights , but the rich sit in lowly positions .
I have seen servants on horses , And princes walking as servants on the earth .
I have seen slaves on horseback , while princes go on foot like slaves .
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him .
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake .
Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them .
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself .
If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened , Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom `is' advantageous to make right .
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened , more strength must be exerted , but skill produces success .
If the serpent biteth without enchantment , Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue .
If the snake bites before it is charmed , there is no profit for the charmer .
Words of the mouth of the wise ` are ' gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up .
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
The beginning of the words of his mouth ` is ' folly, And the latter end of his mouth ` Is ' mischievous madness.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
And the fool multiplieth words : `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him? '
Yet the fool multiplies words . No one knows what is coming , and who can tell him what will come after him ?
The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
Wo to thee , O land , when thy king ` is ' a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
Woe to you , O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Happy art thou , O land , When thy king ` is ' a son of freemen , And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
Blessed 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.
By slothfulness is the wall brought low , And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop .
Through laziness the roof caves in , and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks .
For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful , And the silver answereth with all .
A feast is prepared for laughter , and wine makes life merry , but money is the answer for everything .
Even in thy mind a king revile not , And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich : For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go , And a possessor of wings declareth the word .
Do 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 .

Scripture text: Young's Literal Translation and Berean Standard Bible. Public domain.; Public domain; source text distributed by BSB Publishing, LLC..