Ecclesiastes 10:19
17 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.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
- KJV
- A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
- WEB
- A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
- ASV
- A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
- DARBY
- A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
- BLB
- Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry—and the silver is the answer to all.
- ÅB
- For å more seg holder de[^4] gjestebud, og vinen legger glede over livet; alt sammen fås for penger.
- OTB
- En fest er laget for latter, vin gjør livet gledelig, og penger er svaret på alt.
- B1930
- For å more sig holder de gjestebud, og vinen legger glede over livet; alt sammen fås for penger. < FRK 10, 16.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 104:15
wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
Read in contextPhilippians 4:15–19
And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.
Read in contextIsaiah 24:11
In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:1–2
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
Read in contextLuke 12:19
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
Read in contextPsalms 112:9
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
Read in contextIsaiah 23:18
Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.
Read in context1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
Read in context