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Ecclesiastes 10:13

Words and speechWisdom

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
KJV
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
WEB
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
ASV
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
DARBY
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
BLB
the beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, and the end of his mouth [is] evil madness.
ÅB
De første ord av hans munn er dårskap, og enden på hans tale er farlig galskap.
OTB
Begynnelsen av hans ord er dårskap, og slutten av det er ond galskap.
B1930
De første ord av hans munn er dårskap, og enden på hans tale er farlig galskap.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 25:10–11

    But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 29:9

    If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 20:26–33

    Saul said nothing that day because he thought, “Something has happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 22:7–8

    Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 6:27

    He answered, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?”

    Read in context

  • Acts 6:9–11

    But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen,

    Read in context

  • Luke 11:53–54

    As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,

    Read in context

  • John 12:10

    So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,

    Read in context