Ecclesiastes 10:9-11
Living Bible
8-9 Dig a well—and fall into it! Demolish an old wall—and be bitten by a snake! When working in a quarry, stones will fall and crush you! There is risk in each stroke of your ax!
10 A dull ax requires great strength; be wise and sharpen the blade.
11 When the horse is stolen, it is too late to lock the barn.[a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:11 When the horse is stolen, it is too late to lock the barn, literally, “If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.”
Ecclesiastes 10:9-11
New International Version
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.(A)
10 If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.(B)
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