Ecclesiastes 10:16

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Isa 3:12 : 12 Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people’s leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions.
  • Isa 3:4-5 : 4 The LORD says,“I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them. 5 The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.
  • Isa 5:11-12 : 11 Beware, those who get up early to drink beer, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine. 12 They have stringed instruments, tambourines, flutes, and wine at their parties. So they do not recognize what the LORD is doing, they do not perceive what he is bringing about.
  • 2 Chr 13:7 : 7 Lawless good-for-nothing men gathered around him and conspired against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was an inexperienced young man and could not resist them.
  • 2 Chr 33:1-9 : 1 Manasseh’s Reign Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out ahead of the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the LORD’s temple, about which the LORD had said,“Jerusalem will be my permanent home.” 5 In the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky. 6 He passed his sons through the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and practiced divination, omen reading, and sorcery. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits and appointed magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the LORD and angered him. 7 He put an idolatrous image he had made in God’s temple, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon,“This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home. 8 I will not make Israel again leave the land I gave to their ancestors, provided that they carefully obey all I commanded them, the whole law, the rules and regulations given through Moses.” 9 But Manasseh misled the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem so that they sinned more than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed ahead of the Israelites. 10 The LORD confronted Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. They seized Manasseh, put hooks in his nose, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon. 12 In his pain Manasseh asked the LORD his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 When he prayed to the LORD, the LORD responded to him and answered favorably his cry for mercy. The LORD brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the LORD is the true God. 14 After this Manasseh built up the outer wall of the City of David on the west side of the Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate and all around the terrace; he made it much higher. He placed army officers in all the fortified cities in Judah. 15 He removed the foreign gods and images from the LORD’s temple and all the altars he had built on the hill of the LORD’s temple and in Jerusalem; he threw them outside the city. 16 He erected the altar of the LORD and offered on it peace offerings and thank offerings. He told the people of Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17 However, the people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places, but only to the LORD their God. 18 The rest of the events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the prophets spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 19 The Annals of the Prophets include his prayer, give an account of how the LORD responded to it, record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself. 20 Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace. His son Amon replaced him as king.
  • 2 Chr 36:2 : 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
  • 2 Chr 36:5 : 5 Jehoiakim’s Reign Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
  • 2 Chr 36:9 : 9 Jehoiachin’s Reign Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD.
  • 2 Chr 36:11 : 11 Zedekiah’s Reign Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem.
  • Prov 20:1-2 : 1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise. 2 The king’s terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.
  • Isa 28:7-8 : 7 Even these men stagger because of wine, they stumble around because of beer– priests and prophets stagger because of beer, they are confused because of wine, they stumble around because of beer; they stagger while seeing prophetic visions, they totter while making legal decisions. 8 Indeed, all the tables are covered with vomit, with filth, leaving no clean place.
  • Jer 21:12 : 12 O royal family descended from David. The LORD says:‘See to it that people each day are judged fairly. Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Otherwise, my wrath will blaze out against you. It will burn like a fire that cannot be put out because of the evil that you have done.
  • Hos 7:5-7 : 5 At the celebration of their king, his princes become inflamed with wine; they conspire with evildoers. 6 They approach him, all the while plotting against him. Their hearts are like an oven; their anger smolders all night long, but in the morning it bursts into a flaming fire. 7 All of them are blazing like an oven; they devour their rulers. All of their kings fall– and none of them call on me!

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 10:17-18
    2 verses
    87%

    17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time– with self-control and not in drunkenness.

    18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.

  • Isa 3:4-6
    3 verses
    74%

    4The LORD says,“I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them.

    5The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.

    6Indeed, a man will grab his brother right in his father’s house and say,‘You own a coat– you be our leader! This heap of ruins will be under your control.’

  • Isa 7:16
    73%

    16Here is why this will be so: Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land whose two kings you fear will be desolate.

  • Eccl 4:13-14
    2 verses
    73%

    13Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

    14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.

  • Prov 30:22
    73%

    22under a servant who becomes king, under a fool who becomes stuffed with food,

  • Prov 19:10
    72%

    10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

  • Isa 5:11
    72%

    11Beware, those who get up early to drink beer, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine.

  • Hos 10:15
    71%

    15So will it happen to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness! When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be destroyed.

  • Prov 28:2
    71%

    2When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

  • Eccl 10:5-7
    3 verses
    70%

    5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.

    6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.

    7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.

  • Prov 29:2
    70%

    2When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

  • Prov 28:15-16
    2 verses
    70%

    15Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

    16The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

  • Prov 31:4
    70%

    4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

  • Hos 7:5
    70%

    5At the celebration of their king, his princes become inflamed with wine; they conspire with evildoers.

  • Zeph 3:3
    69%

    3Her princes are as fierce as roaring lions; her rulers are as hungry as wolves in the desert, who completely devour their prey by morning.

  • Hos 13:10
    69%

    10Where then is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers for whom you asked, saying,“Give me a king and princes”?

  • Eccl 10:15
    69%

    15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.

  • Prov 17:7
    69%

    7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

  • Ps 2:10
    69%

    10So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!

  • Joel 1:5
    69%

    5Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine drinkers, because the sweet wine has been taken away from you.

  • 1 Sam 12:25
    69%

    25But if you continue to do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

  • Jer 4:9
    69%

    9“When this happens,” says the LORD,“the king and his officials will lose their courage. The priests will be struck with horror, and the prophets will be speechless in astonishment.”

  • Isa 32:1
    69%

    1Justice and Wisdom Will Prevail Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.

  • Prov 23:1
    69%

    1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,

  • Isa 3:12
    69%

    12Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people’s leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions.

  • Prov 4:17
    69%

    17Indeed they have eaten bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence.

  • Isa 21:5
    69%

    5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!

  • Isa 3:14
    69%

    14The LORD comes to pronounce judgment on the leaders of his people and their officials. He says,“It is you who have ruined the vineyard! You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor.

  • Jer 22:15
    68%

    15Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. He did what was just and right. So things went well with him.

  • Isa 9:16
    68%

    16The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed.

  • Isa 28:1
    68%

    1The Lord Will Judge Samaria The splendid crown of Ephraim’s drunkards is doomed, the withering flower, its beautiful splendor, situated at the head of a rich valley, the crown of those overcome with wine.

  • Isa 8:21
    68%

    21They will pass through the land destitute and starving. Their hunger will make them angry, and they will curse their king and their God as they look upward.

  • Lam 5:12-13
    2 verses
    68%

    12Princes were hung by their hands; elders were mistreated.

    13The young men perform menial labor; boys stagger from their labor.

  • Prov 16:10
    68%

    10The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.

  • Hos 7:3
    68%

    3Political Intrigue and Conspiracy in the Palace The royal advisers delight the king with their evil schemes, the princes make him glad with their lies.

  • Hab 2:15
    68%

    15“Woe to you who force your neighbor to drink wine– you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger, so you can look at their naked bodies.

  • Ps 107:40
    68%

    40He would pour contempt upon princes, and he made them wander in a wasteland with no road.

  • Hos 10:13
    68%

    13But you have plowed wickedness; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your chariots; you have relied on your many warriors.

  • Job 3:14
    68%

    14with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate,

  • Prov 16:12
    68%

    12Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.

  • Prov 13:23
    68%

    23Abundant food may come from the field of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice.