New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:18
18Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:18
16Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. 17Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness. Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks. 19A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything. 20Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:18 word by word
בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם יִמַּ֣ךְ הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת יָדַ֖יִם יִדְלֹ֥ף הַבָּֽיִת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:18
- Proverbs 12:24Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
- Proverbs 14:1The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
- Proverbs 20:4Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
- Proverbs 21:25The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
- Proverbs 23:21for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
- Proverbs 24:30I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
- Hebrews 6:11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
- 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, 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
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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