Keraia
Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10:18

Wisdom and Folly · Ecclesiastes 10:1–20
Read Ecclesiastes 10

Translations

Modern
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Traditional
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Literal
By laziness, the rafter is made to sink, and by idleness of hands, the house leaks.
Latin
In pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio, et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

Notes

Ecclesiastes 10:18

Delaying roof repairs causes rafters to sag and eventually ruins the home (see Proverbs 12:27; 20:4). Government corruption has a similar impact (Ecclesiastes 10:15–16).

Ecclesiastes 10:15–20

The audience for this speech might have been a group of government workers. How should a leader govern when power and wealth lead to a lack of responsibility?

Theme notes and profiles

Enjoying God’s Gifts

Glossary

Book of Ecclesiastes

Topics

Idle Hands Idleness and Sloth: Lead to Ruin Idleness: General Scriptures Concerning Sloth Slothfulness: General Scriptures Concerning