Ecclesiastes 10:4

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 25:15 : 15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
  • Eccl 8:3 : 3 Don't be hasty to go out of his presence. Don't persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,
  • 1 Sam 25:24-44 : 24 She fell at his feet, and said, "On me, my lord, on me be the iniquity; and please let your handmaid speak in your ears. Hear the words of your handmaid. 25 Please don't let my lord regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your handmaid, didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26 Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, since Yahweh has withheld you from blood guiltiness, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies, and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. 27 Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your handmaid. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of Yahweh; and evil shall not be found in you all your days. 29 Though men may rise up to pursue you, and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God. He will sling out the souls of your enemies, as from the hollow of a sling. 30 It shall come to pass, when Yahweh has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and shall have appointed you prince over Israel, 31 that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid." 32 David said to Abigail, "Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are you, that have kept me this day from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 For indeed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn't have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall." 35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him: and he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. Behold, I have listened to your voice, and have granted your request." 36 Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken. Therefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. 37 It happened in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38 It happened about ten days after, that Yahweh struck Nabal, so that he died. 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed is Yahweh, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil. Yahweh has returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head." David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to him as wife. 40 When the servants of David had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, "David has sent us to you, to take you to him as wife." 41 She arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." 42 Abigail hurried, and arose, and rode on a donkey, with five ladies of hers who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they both became his wives. 44 Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of 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%

    5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

    6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

  • Prov 14:29
    75%

    29He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

  • Prov 15:1
    73%

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

  • Prov 19:10-11
    2 verses
    73%

    10Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

    11The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

  • Eccl 7:9
    73%

    9Don't be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

  • Prov 16:32
    72%

    32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

  • Prov 16:14
    72%

    14The king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

  • Prov 20:2-3
    2 verses
    72%

    2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

    3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.

  • Prov 25:6-8
    3 verses
    72%

    6Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;

    7for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

    8Don't be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

  • Eccl 8:2-5
    4 verses
    71%

    2I say, "Keep the king's command!" because of the oath to God.

    3Don't be hasty to go out of his presence. Don't persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,

    4for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

    5Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.

  • Prov 25:15
    71%

    15By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

  • Prov 29:9
    71%

    9If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

  • Prov 29:11-12
    2 verses
    70%

    11A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.

    12If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.

  • Ps 37:8
    70%

    8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don't fret, it leads only to evildoing.

  • Prov 26:4
    70%

    4Don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

  • Prov 17:27
    69%

    27He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

  • Prov 14:16-17
    2 verses
    69%

    16A wise man fears, and shuns evil, but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.

    17He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

  • Prov 29:22
    69%

    22An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.

  • Eccl 9:17
    69%

    17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

  • Job 36:18
    69%

    18Don't let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

  • Prov 22:10
    69%

    10Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

  • Prov 28:2
    69%

    2In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

  • Prov 24:10
    69%

    10If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

  • Eccl 10:3
    69%

    3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

  • Prov 3:30
    69%

    30Don't strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

  • Prov 30:32
    69%

    32"If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.

  • Prov 28:16
    68%

    16A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

  • Prov 15:18
    68%

    18A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

  • Prov 24:18
    68%

    18lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

  • Hos 4:4
    68%

    4"Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

  • Eccl 5:8
    68%

    8If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don't marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.

  • Prov 29:1
    68%

    1He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.

  • Prov 25:28
    68%

    28Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.

  • Job 13:5
    68%

    5Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

  • Prov 19:19
    68%

    19A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

  • 1 Sam 20:7
    68%

    7If he says, 'It is well;' your servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, then know that evil is determined by him.

  • Lev 4:22
    68%

    22"'When a ruler sins, and unwittingly does any one of all the things which Yahweh his God has commanded not to be done, and is guilty;

  • Prov 17:14
    68%

    14The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

  • Prov 29:19
    67%

    19A servant can't be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

  • Prov 21:14
    67%

    14A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.