Wisdom and Folly
Ecclesiastes 10:3
In 11 translations
- BSB
- Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
- KJV
- Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.his…: Heb. his heart
- WEB
- Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
- ASV
- Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
- LSV
- And also, when he that is a fool || Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, || And he has said to everyone, “He [is] a fool.”
- YLT
- And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, 'He [is] a fool.'
- DBY
- Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
- DRC
- Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
- GNV
- And also when the foole goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he telleth vnto all that he is a foole.
- JPS
- Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
- LXXE
- Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
Word by word Hebrew · tap a word
Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.
Where the editions differ
Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →
- Written (Ketiv): כְּשֶׁהַסָּכָל (“like when the fool”). Read aloud (Qere): כְּשֶׁסָּכָ֥ל (“like when a fool”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.
Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (1)
- Leningrad Codex reads כְּשֶׁהסָּכָ֥ל; read aloud (Qere) reads כְּשֶׁסָּכָ֥ל (“like when a fool”).
Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.
Original-language editions
- WLC
- וְגַם־בַּדֶּ֛רֶךְ כשהסכל הֹלֵ֖ךְ לִבּ֣וֹ חָסֵ֑ר וְאָמַ֥ר לַכֹּ֖ל סָכָ֥ל הֽוּא׃Read aloud as (qere): כְּשֶׁסָּכָ֥לYathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.
- LXX-Br
- Καί γε ἐν ὁδῷ ὅταν ἄφρων πορεύηται, καρδία αὐτοῦ ὑστερήσει, καὶ ἃ λογιεῖται πάντα ἀφροσύνη ἐστίν.
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Cross-references most cited first
- Proverbs 18:2A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
- Proverbs 13:16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
- Ecclesiastes 5:3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- 1 Peter 4:4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.
- Proverbs 18:6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).