Ecclesiastes 10:18

Ecclesiastes 10:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
• New International Version (NIV)Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:18

16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth. 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything. 20Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 word by word

בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם יִמַּ֣ךְ הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת יָדַ֖יִם יִדְלֹ֥ף הַבָּֽיִת׃Read the interlinear

• handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:18

• Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful [hand] shall be under tribute.
• Proverbs 14:1The wisdom of women buildeth their house; but folly plucketh it down with her hands.
• Proverbs 20:4The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
• Proverbs 21:25The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work:
• Proverbs 23:21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness clotheth with rags.
• Proverbs 24:30I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;
• Hebrews 6:11But we desire earnestly that each one of you shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end;
• 2 Peter 1:5But for this very reason also, using therewith all diligence, in your faith have also virtue, in virtue knowledge,

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18By much slothfulness - This is remarkably the case in some countries. Houses are not repaired till they almost fall about the ears of the inhabitants. We have an adage that applies to all such cases: "A stitch in time saves nine."Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 Foolish rulers, by their weakness, self-indulgence and sloth, bring decay upon the state: nobleness and temperance insure prosperity: yet the subject must not rebel in word or thought against his king. Ecclesiastes 10:16 A child - Rather, young. The word is applied to Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:7 at the time of his accession to the throne, when he was 41 years old. Eat in the morning - A sign of intemperance (compare Isaiah 5:11). Ecclesiastes…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 The happiness of a land depends on the character of its rulers. The people cannot be happy when their princes are childish, and lovers of pleasure. Slothfulness is of ill consequence both to private and public affairs. Money, of itself, will neither feed nor clothe, though it answers the occasions of this present life, as what is to be had, may generally be had for money. But the soul, as it is not redeemed, so it is not maintained with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Delaying roof repairs causes rafters to sag and eventually ruins the home (see Proverbs 12:27; 20:4). Government corruption has a similar impact (Ecclesiastes 10:15–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. building--literally, "the joining of the rafters," namely, the kingdom (Ec 10:16; Is 3:6; Am 9:11). hands--(Ec 4:5; Pr 6:10). droppeth--By neglecting to repair the roof in time, the rain gets through.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:18

• Idleness
• Slothfulness

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Decay
• Drop, Dropping
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings