Ecclesiastes 10:4

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

If the anger of a ruler rises against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    If the spirit{H7307} of the ruler{H4910} rise up{H5927} against thee, leave{H3240} not thy place;{H4725} for gentleness{H4832} allayeth{H3240} great{H1419} offences.{H2399}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    If the spirit{H7307} of the ruler{H4910}{(H8802)} rise up{H5927}{(H8799)} against thee, leave{H3240}{(H8686)} not thy place{H4725}; for yielding{H4832} pacifieth{H3240}{(H8686)} great{H1419} offences{H2399}.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Yf a principall sprete be geue the to beare rule, be not negliget the in thine office: for so shal greate wickednesse be put downe, as it were wt a medecyne.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    If the spirite of him that ruleth, rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place: for gentlenes pacifieth great sinnes.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    If a principall spirite be geuen thee to beare rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for he that can take cure of him selfe, auoydeth great offences.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ¶ If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 25:15 : 15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
  • Eccl 8:3 : 3 Do not be quick to leave the king’s presence, and do not insist on an evil matter, for the king will do whatever he pleases.
  • 1 Sam 25:24-44 : 24 She fell at his feet and said, "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you, and hear the words of your servant. 25 Please, my lord, pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal. He is exactly what his name suggests—his name means ‘fool,’ and folly goes with him. But I, your servant, did not see the men my lord sent. 26 Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, the Lord has kept you from shedding blood and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those intent on harming my lord be as foolish as Nabal. 27 Now let this gift that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the offense of your servant, for the Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because my lord fights the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone pursues you to take your life, the life of my lord will be securely bound in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord all the good things he promised and has appointed you ruler over Israel, 31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord has brought my lord success, remember your servant. 32 David said to Abigail, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me. 33 Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not hurried to come to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning. 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought to him and said, 'Go home in peace. See, I have listened to your words and granted your request.' 36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk, so she told him nothing at all until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him, and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. 39 When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, 'Blessed be the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for insulting me, and has kept me, his servant, from wrongdoing. The Lord has brought Nabal’s wickedness upon his own head.' Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40 David’s servants went to Abigail at Carmel and said to her, 'David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.' 41 Abigail got up, bowed with her face to the ground, and said, 'Here is your servant, ready to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.' 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey, accompanied by five of her young women as attendants. She followed David’s messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both women became his wives. 44 Meanwhile, Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti, son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 10:5-6
    2 verses
    79%

    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.

  • 29 Whoever is patient shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered person promotes folly.

  • 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

  • 73%

    10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes.

    11 A person’s wisdom makes them slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense.

  • 9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

  • 32 Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

  • 14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.

  • Prov 20:2-3
    2 verses
    72%

    2 The roar of a king is like the growl of a young lion; whoever provokes him to anger risks his life.

    3 It is honorable for a person to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

  • Prov 25:6-8
    3 verses
    72%

    6 Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great.

    7 For it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than to be humiliated in the presence of a nobleman whom your eyes have seen.

    8 Do not go hastily to court, lest you do something in the end that leaves you humiliated when your neighbor puts you to shame.

  • Eccl 8:2-5
    4 verses
    71%

    2 I advise you to obey the king's command and stay true to your oath made before God.

    3 Do not be quick to leave the king’s presence, and do not insist on an evil matter, for the king will do whatever he pleases.

    4 Since the king’s word has authority, who can question him, saying, 'What are you doing?'

    5 Whoever obeys a command will avoid harm, and the heart of the wise person knows the right time and the right way.

  • 15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

  • 9 When a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether he rages or laughs, there is no peace.

  • 70%

    11 A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man calmly holds it back.

    12 If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials become wicked.

  • 8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it only leads to evil.

  • 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him yourself.

  • 27 The one who holds back his words has knowledge, and the one who is calm in spirit is a person of understanding.

  • 69%

    16 The wise fear and turn away from evil, but fools are reckless and overconfident.

    17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and one who devises evil is hated.

  • 22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man commits many transgressions.

  • 17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler among fools.

  • 18 Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing, and let a great ransom not turn you aside.

  • 10 Drive out the mocker, and conflict will go away; strife and insults will cease.

  • 2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will endure.

  • 10 If you falter in a day of trouble, your strength is small.

  • 3 Even while walking along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how foolish he is.

  • 30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason, when they have done you no harm.

  • 32 If you have acted foolishly by exalting yourself, or if you have devised evil, put your hand over your mouth.

  • 16 A ruler lacking understanding is abundant in extortions, but one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

  • 18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one who is patient calms a quarrel.

  • 18 Otherwise, the LORD will see and disapprove, and He may turn His anger away from them.

  • 4 But let no one contend, and let no one rebuke, for your people are like those who argue with a priest.

  • 8 The benefit of the land is for everyone; even a king depends on the field being cultivated.

  • 1 A man who is often corrected but stubbornly stiffens his neck will be suddenly broken beyond healing.

  • 28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

  • 5 If only you would keep silent, it would be wisdom for you.

  • 19 A person with great anger must bear the penalty; if you rescue them, you will have to do it again.

  • 7 If he says, 'Good,' it will mean peace for your servant. But if he is very angry, know that he has determined harm.

  • 22 When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the LORD his God, he becomes guilty.

  • 14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; so stop the dispute before it breaks out.

  • 19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; even if he understands, he will not respond.

  • 14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe in the lap pacifies intense wrath.