Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 in English

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

⁸ He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.

⁹ He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man.

¹¹ If a serpent bite when there is no charmer's whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

⁸ He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.

⁹ He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man.

¹¹ If a serpent bite when there is no charmer's whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ If the serpent bite before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

⁸ It is possible that those who dig pits will fall into one of those pits. It is possible that someone who tears down a wall will be bitten by a snake that is in that wall.

⁹ If you work in a quarry, it is possible that a stone will fall on you and injure you. It is possible that men who split logs will be injured by one of those logs.

¹⁰ If your axe is not sharp DOU, you will need to work harder to cut down a tree, but by being wise, you will succeed.

¹¹ If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.

⁸ He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.

⁹ He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man.

¹¹ If a serpent bite when there is no charmer's whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

⁸ He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.

⁹ He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.

¹⁰ If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.

¹¹ If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

⁹ Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.

¹¹ If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.

¹¹ If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.

⁸ If you dig a pit, you could fall in. If you knock down a wall, you could be bitten by a snake.

⁹ If you quarry stone, you could be injured. If you split logs, you could be hurt.

¹⁰ If your ax is blunt and you don't sharpen it, you have to use a lot more force. Conclusion: being wise brings good results.

¹¹ If the snake bites the snake charmer before it's charmed, there's no benefit to the snake charmer!

⁸ He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.

¹⁰ If the yron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more strength: but the excellencie to direct a thing is wisedome.

¹¹ If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.

⁹ Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.

¹¹ If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue in charming no preference.—

⁸ He that digs a pit shall fall into it; And him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.

⁹ He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; He that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the axe-head should fall off, Then the man troubles his countenance, And he must put forth more strength: And in that case skill is of no advantage to a man.

¹¹ If a serpent bite when there is no charmer’s whisper, Then there is no advantage to the charmer.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh down a wall, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put forth more strength; but an advantage for giving success hath wisdom.

¹¹ If a serpent bite before he is charmed, then there is no advantage to the charmer.

⁸ Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.

⁹ Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.

¹⁰ If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.

¹¹ If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

¹¹ Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰ If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

⁸ He that diggeth a ditch, shall fall into it; and an adder shall bite him, that destroyeth a hedge.

⁹ He that beareth over stones, shall be tormented in those; and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded of those or them.

¹⁰ If iron is folded again, and it is not as before, but is made blunt, it shall be made sharp with much travail; and wisdom shall follow after busyness.

¹¹ If a serpent biteth, it biteth in silence; he that backbiteth privily, hath nothing less than it.

⁸ He that diggeth a ditch, shall fall into it; and an adder shall bite him, that destroyeth a hedge. (He who diggeth a ditch, shall fall into it; and he who destroyeth a hedge, shall be bitten by a serpent hiding in it.)

⁹ He that beareth over stones, shall be tormented in those; and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded of those. (He who carrieth stones, can be hurt by them; and he who cutteth wood, can be injured when cutting it.)

¹⁰ If iron is folded again, and it is not as before, but is made blunt, it shall be made sharp with much travail; and wisdom shall follow after busyness.

¹¹ If a serpent biteth, it biteth in silence; he that backbiteth privily, hath nothing less than it, (or he who privately, or secretly, backbiteth someone is no better).

⁸ Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

⁹ Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.

¹⁰ If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom is advantageous to make right.

¹¹ If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.