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Ecclesiastes 10:13

Words and speechWisdom

11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go 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

    And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 29:9

    If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 20:26–33

    Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 22:7–8

    Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 6:27

    And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

    Read in context

  • Acts 6:9–11

    Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

    Read in context

  • Luke 11:53–54

    And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

    Read in context

  • John 12:10

    But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

    Read in context