Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies can make the perfumer's oil stink and ferment; a small act of folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
KJV1611 – Modern English
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking aroma: so does a little folly him who is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
King James Version 1611 (Original)
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.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
Dead{H4194} flies{H2070} cause the oil{H8081} of the perfumer{H7543} to send forth{H5042} an evil odor;{H887} [so] doth a little{H4592} folly{H5531} outweigh{H3368} wisdom{H2451} and honor.{H3519}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
Dead{H4194} flies{H2070} cause the ointment{H8081} of the apothecary{H7543}{(H8802)} to send forth{H5042}{(H8686)} a stinking savour{H887}{(H8686)}: so doth a little{H4592} folly{H5531} him that is in reputation{H3368} for wisdom{H2451} and honour{H3519}.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
Deed flyes yt corruppe swete oyntment & make it to styncke, are somthinge more worth then the wy?dome & honor of a foole.
Geneva Bible (1560)
Dead flies cause to stinke, & putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.
Bishops' Bible (1568)
A dead flye doth corrupt sweete oyntment, and maketh it to stinke: Euen so oft tymes he that hath ben had in estimation for wysdome and honour, is abhorred because of a litle foolishnesse.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
¶ 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.
Webster's Bible (1833)
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
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!
American Standard Version (1901)
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; `so' doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
American Standard Version (1901)
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Bible in Basic English (1941)
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.
World English Bible (2000)
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.
Referenced Verses
- Matt 5:13-16 : 13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Gal 2:12-14 : 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they came, he began to draw back and separate himself, fearing those of the circumcision group. 13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, 'If you, being a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?'
- Exod 30:25 : 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the holy anointing oil.
- Exod 30:34-35 : 34 Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Take fragrant spices—stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures. 35 Make them into incense, blended as the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.
- 2 Chr 19:2 : 2 Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer, went out to meet King Jehoshaphat and said to him, 'Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the LORD’s wrath is upon you.'
- Neh 6:13 : 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by acting this way. Then they could give me a bad name and discredit me.
- Neh 13:26 : 26 Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin because of such things? Among the many nations, there was no king like him; he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Yet, even he was led into sin by foreign women.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 10:2-32 verses78%
2 A wise person's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart inclines him to the left.
3 Even while walking along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how foolish he is.
- 72%
10 The one who winks with an eye causes trouble, and a fool with loose lips will come to ruin.
- 71%
23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
- Eccl 10:12-132 verses71%
12 The words of a wise person's mouth bring favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of a fool's speech is foolishness, and the end of it is evil madness.
- 71%
16 Every prudent person acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts their folly.
- 71%
16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!
- 70%
8 A wise-hearted person accepts commands, but a fool with loose lips will come to ruin.
- Prov 14:7-82 verses70%
7 Move away from a foolish person, for you will gain no knowledge from their speech.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand their path, but the folly of fools is deceit.
- 70%
24 The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields only folly.
- 70%
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but it becomes known even among fools.
- 70%
14 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings about ruin.
- 70%
21 Foolishness brings joy to one lacking sense, but a person of understanding walks a straight path.
- 70%
3 The mouth of a fool brings a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
- 70%
3 A man’s foolishness twists his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.
- Eccl 10:5-62 verses70%
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error that proceeds from a ruler:
6 Foolishness is set in high places, while the rich sit in lowly positions.
- 70%
9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
- 70%
20 Valuable treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows them up.
- Eccl 7:4-63 verses70%
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of fools—this too is meaningless.
- 70%
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes.
- 69%
16 Why should a fool pay for wisdom when he has no intention of understanding it?
- 69%
15 The way of a fool seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
- 69%
1 Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be a fool with twisted lips.
- Eccl 2:13-142 verses69%
13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both.
- 69%
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
- 69%
24 Wisdom is before the face of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
- 69%
9 Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.
- 69%
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
- 69%
11 Like a dog returning to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
- 69%
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
- 69%
16 The wise fear and turn away from evil, but fools are reckless and overconfident.
- 69%
11 A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man calmly holds it back.
- 68%
2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of fools gushes folly.
- 68%
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
- 68%
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in revealing his own thoughts.
- 68%
9 Oil and perfume bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend comes from heartfelt counsel.
- 68%
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the discipline of fools is folly.
- 68%
23 A prudent person conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
- 68%
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
- 68%
8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?
- 68%
2 For anger kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
- 68%
15 The work of fools wearies them because they do not even know how to go to the city.
- Eccl 9:17-182 verses68%
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.