KJV King James Version
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
WEB World English Bible
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
ASV American Standard Version
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honour—a little folly!
Surrounding context — Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.
2 A wise man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
זְב֣וּבֵיH2070 · ze.vuvflyמָ֔וֶתH4194 · ma.vetdeathיַבְאִ֥ישׁH887 · ba.ashto stinkיַבִּ֖יעַH5042 · na.vato bubbleשֶׁ֣מֶןH8081 · she.menoilרוֹקֵ֑חַH7543 · ra.qachto mixיָקָ֛רH3368 · ya.qarpreciousמֵחָכְמָ֥הH2451 · chokh.mahwisdomמִכָּב֖וֹדH3519 · ka.vodgloryסִכְל֥וּתH5531 · sikh.lutfollyמְעָֽט׃H4592 · me.atlittle
Cross-references
Matthew 5:13-16Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.Galatians 2:12-14For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.Nehemiah 13:26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.Exodus 30:25And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.2 Chronicles 19:2And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD.Exodus 30:34-35And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; [these] sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like [weight]:Nehemiah 6:13Therefore [was] he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and [that] they might have [matter] for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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