Ecclesiastes 10:9-15
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 10
9One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success. 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer. 12Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; 13the beginning of his talking is foolishness, and the end of it is evil insanity. 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him? 15The labor of a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 10
9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If 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. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. 12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness; 14yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? 15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don’t know how to go to the city.New Living Translation
English Standard Version
Chapter 10
9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. 10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. 11If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. 12The words of a wise man 's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. 14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? 15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.New International Version
Chapter 10
9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
New King James Version
