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OET-RV by cross-referenced section ECC 9:13

ECC 9:13–10:20 ©

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Wisdom is better than stupidity

Ecc 9:13—10:20

13I also saw this about wisdom in this world

and found it powerful: 14There was a small walled city with not so many inhabitants and a powerful king decided to attack it so he surrounded it and built large siege ramps against the walls. 15There was a poor man in the city who was wise and used his wisdom to save it from that king, but the people soon forgot about that poor man. 16So I concluded that wisdom is better than strength and yet the poor person’s wisdom wasn’t appreciated and his words were soon forgotten.

17The words of wise people are quietly heeded—

more than those of a ruler shouting at a bunch of fools.

18It’s better to be wise than to have many weapons,

but one disobedient person will destroy a lot of good.

10Dead flies make a perfumer’s product stink.

Similarly, a little foolishness can ruin all your wisdom or honour.

2A wise person’s thoughts lead to protection,

^but a fool’s thoughts lead to vulnerability

3and while they’re walking along the road,

the fool lacks common sense

and everyone is aware of what a fool they are.

4If a ruler gets upset with you, don’t quit your position,

because calmness will smooth over large offenses.

5I saw another misfortune in this world:

where an error happened in front of a ruler.

6Foolishness can happen even in high positions,

^and wealthy people can be in low positions.

7I’ve seen slaves riding horses

^and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

8A person who digs a pit can fall into it,[ref]

and an attacker who breaks through a wall gets bitten by a snake.

9A person who pulls out rocks might be hurt by them.

Someone who splits wood might get injured by it.

10If your iron axehead gets blunt and the owner doesn’t sharpen it,

then he has to use lots of strength,

so use wisdom if you want to succeed.

11If a snake bites before it’s charmed,

the snake charmer won’t be able to charge for the show.

12A wise person’s words earns them favour,

but a fool’s lips destroy him

13as soon as he opens his mouth, foolishness comes out,

and the end of his chatter is wicked madness.

14Then the fool continues again with more nonsense.

No one knows what will happen next?

Who can tell you what will happen in the future?

15A foolish person’s work wears him out,

because he doesn’t know how to get to a city.

16A country won’t end well

if its king is young and its princes feast in the morning.

17A country is blessed if its king comes from a noble family

and its princes eat and drink for strength and not for drunkenness.

18With a lazy owner, the roof beams will sag.

Idle hands will result in a leaky house.

19There’s laughter around the meal table,

wine makes people glad,

and money is the answer to everything.

20Don’t curse the king even in your mind,

and don’t curse the rich even in your bedroom,

because a little birdie will carry your words

and some feathered critter will pass on what you said.


Collected OET-RV cross-references

Psa 7:15:

15He digs a pit then makes it deeper,

but he’ll fall into the very hole that he made.

Prv 26:27:

27