Ecclesiastes 10:16 cpdv — Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.

Catholic Public Domain Version

"Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning. "

— Ecclesiastes 10:16, Catholic Public Domain Version

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Ecclesiastes 10:16 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 10 — Context

13

At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.

14

The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?

15

The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.

16

Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.

17

Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.

18

By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.

19

While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.

Ecclesiastes 10:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 10:16 say?
Ecclesiastes 10:16 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning. ”
Where is Ecclesiastes 10:16 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 10:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 10, verse 16.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 10:16.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 10:16 in?
Ecclesiastes 10:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 10:16?
Ecclesiastes 10:16 reads (CPDV): “Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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