KJV King James Version
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ecclesiastes 10:11
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
WEB World English Bible
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
ASV American Standard Version
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
Surrounding context — Ecclesiastes 10
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.
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.
13 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?
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.
Cross-references
Jeremiah 8:17For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which [will] not [be] charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.Psalm 58:4-5Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear;Psalm 64:3Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] bitter words:Psalm 52:2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.Proverbs 18:21Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.James 3:6And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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