Ecclesiastes 10:13

The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly,—but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

In The King James Version

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

In Context

12The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant,—but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:

14Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words,—[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 10

Cross References

Judges 14:15And it came to pass, on the fourth day, that they said to Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may tell us the riddle, lest we burn thee and the house of thy father, with fire. Was it not, to impoverish us, that ye invited us—was it not?

1 Samuel 22:7then said Saul unto his servants who were stationed by him—Hear, I pray you, ye Benjamites! What! even to all of you, will the son of Jesse give fields and vineyards? All of you, will he appoint to be princes of thousands, and princes of hundreds?

1 Samuel 25:10Then Nabal answered the servants of David, and said, Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? Nowadays, many are the servants that have broken away, every one from the presence of his lord:

2 Kings 6:27And he said—If Yahweh do not save thee, whence should I save thee? out of the threshing-floor or out of the wine-press?

Proverbs 13:16Every prudent man, maketh use of knowledge, but, a dullard, spreadeth folly.

Ecclesiastes 5:2Be not rash with thy mouth, and, with thy heart, be not in haste to bring forth a word, before God,—for, God, is in the heavens, and, thou, upon the earth, for this cause, let thy words be few.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 10:13-16

The Contemptibleness of Folly. 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. Solomon, having shown the benefit of wisdom, and of what great… Read the whole commentary →

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