Ecclesiastes 10:1
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Ecclesiastes 10:1 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”
King James Version · Public Domain“Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom--By reason of honour--a little folly!”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Ecclesiastes 10:1 — 10 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 30:25Prepare from these a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.
- Exodus 30:34The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures,
- 2 Chronicles 19:2Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
- Nehemiah 6:13He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.
- Nehemiah 13:26Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.
- Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
- Haggai 2:12If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests.
- Haggai 2:13So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.
- Matthew 5:13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
- Galatians 2:12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).