New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 10:14
14they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future.
Ecclesiastes 10:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
- New International Version (NIV)and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
- English Standard Version (ESV)A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
- New King James Version (NKJV)A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:14
12Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. 13Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness; they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future. 15Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home. 16What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant, the land whose leaders feast in the morning.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:14 word by word
וְהַסָּכָ֖ל יַרְבֶּ֣ה דְבָרִ֑ים לֹא־יֵדַ֤ע הָאָדָם֙ מַה־שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר יִֽהְיֶה֙ מֵֽאַחֲרָ֔יו מִ֖י יַגִּ֥יד לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:14
- Ecclesiastes 5:3Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.
- Proverbs 10:19Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
- Job 34:37For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God.”
- Job 35:16But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:22So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.
- Ecclesiastes 6:12In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?
- Ecclesiastes 8:7Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?
- James 4:13Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14A man cannot tell what shall be - A foolish babbling man will talk on every subject, though he can say as little on the past, as he can on the future.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Full of words - Confident talking of the future is indicated rather than mere loquacity. Compare James 4:13.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 There is a practice in the East, of charming serpents by music. The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; and contradiction only makes it the more violent. We must find the way to keep him gentle. But by rash, unprincipled, or slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon himself. Would we duly consider our own ignorance as to future events, it would cut off many idle words which we foolishly multiply. Fools…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14the fool multiplies words: Fools often speak about nothing important (see Ecclesiastes 5:3; 6:11; Proverbs 10:19; 17:28). who can tell him what will come after him?: Wise people avoid foolish talk and its consequences (see James 4:13–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. full of words--(Ec 5:2). a man cannot tell what shall be--(Ec 3:22; 6:12; 8:7; 11:2; Pr 27:1). If man, universally (including the wise man), cannot foresee the future, much less can the fool; his "many words" are therefore futile.Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:14
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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