KJV King James Version
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ecclesiastes 10:8
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
WEB World English Bible
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
ASV American Standard Version
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
Surrounding context — Ecclesiastes 10
5 There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
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.
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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
Proverbs 26:27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.Psalm 7:15-16He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch [which] he made.Amos 5:19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.Psalm 9:15-16The heathen are sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.2 Samuel 17:23And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.Amos 9:3And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:Judges 9:5And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, [being] threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.Judges 9:53-57And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.2 Samuel 18:15And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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