Ecclesiastes 10:8-10
New King James Version
8 (A)He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,
And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom [a]brings success.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Lit. is a successful advantage
Ecclesiastes 10:8-10
King James Version
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.
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Ecclesiastes 10:8-10
English Standard Version
8 He who (A)digs a pit will fall into it,
and (B)a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9 (C)He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who (D)splits logs is endangered by them.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.[a]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Or wisdom is an advantage for success
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
