The Burden of Folly
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Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,
and he shows everyone he is a fool.(B)
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and he shows everyone he is a fool.(B)
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
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The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;
the one who splits trees may be endangered by them.
10 the one who splits trees may be endangered by them.
If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,
then one must exert more strength;
however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
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13 then one must exert more strength;
however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly,
but the end of his speaking is evil madness.
14 but the end of his speaking is evil madness.
Yet the fool multiplies words.
No one knows what will happen,
and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?(M)
15 No one knows what will happen,
and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?(M)
The struggles of fools weary them,
for they don’t know how to go to the city.
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17 for they don’t know how to go to the city.
Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles
and your princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.(O)
18 and your princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.(O)
Because of laziness the roof caves in,
and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
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and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
Footnotes:
a.
Ecclesiastes 10:2: Lit his
b.
Ecclesiastes 10:2: Lit his
c.
Ecclesiastes 10:11: Lit master of the tongue