Ecclesiastes 10:17

Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—

Leeser Tanakh

In The King James Version

Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

In Context

16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is lowminded, and when thy princes eat in the morning!

18Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 10

Cross References

Deuteronomy 14:26And thou shalt lay out that money for whatsoever thy soul longeth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat it there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thy household.

Proverbs 31:4Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:

Isaiah 5:11Woe unto those that rise up early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink; that continue until late in the twilight, till wine inflame them!

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 10:17-20

Mutual Duties of Princes and Subjects. 16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. 20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 10:17