EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Ecclesiastes 10:9
9If you cut stones out of the ground, a stone might hurt you. If you cut wood into pieces, a piece of it might hurt you.
Ecclesiastes 10:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:9
7Slaves ride on horses, as important people do. At the same time, princes have to walk, as slaves do. 8If you dig a deep hole, you might fall into it. If you knock down a wall, a snake might bite you. If you cut stones out of the ground, a stone might hurt you. If you cut wood into pieces, a piece of it might hurt you. 10If your axe is not sharp, you will need to be very strong to use it. If you are wise, you will make the axe's edge sharp again. That is how wisdom helps you to do things well. 11Someone may have power over dangerous snakes. But that will not help him if the snake bites him first.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:9 word by word
מַסִּ֣יעַ אֲבָנִ֔ים יֵעָצֵ֖ב בָּהֶ֑ם בּוֹקֵ֥עַ עֵצִ֖ים יִסָּ֥כֶן בָּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Whoso removeth stones - This verse teaches care and caution. Whoever pulls down an old building is likely to be hurt by the stones; and in cleaving wood many accidents occur for want of sufficient caution.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-10Verses 8-10 The figures seem to be taken from the work of building up and pulling down houses. In their general application, they recommend the man who would act wisely to be cautious when taking any step in life which involves risk. Ecclesiastes 10:8 Breaketh an hedge - Rather: “breaks through a wall.” Serpent - The habit of snakes is to nestle in a chink of a wall, or among stones (compare Amos 5:19). Ecclesiastes 10:9 Be endangered - Rather: “cut…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-10Verses 4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred according to their merit. And those are often most forward to offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties, or the consequences. The same remark is applied to the church, or the body of Christ…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Every activity needs wisdom. People show wisdom by taking safety precautions in their jobs, but some risk always remains.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. removeth stones--namely, of an ancient building [Weiss]. His neighbor's landmarks [Holden]. Cuts out from the quarry [Maurer]. endangered--by the splinters, or by the head of the hatchet, flying back on himself. Pithy aphorisms are common in the East. The sense is: Violations of true wisdom recoil on the perpetrators.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
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
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