Ecclesiastes 10:16 net — The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!

NET Bible

"The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!"

— Ecclesiastes 10:16, NET Bible

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Ecclesiastes 10:16 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 10 — Context

13

At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,

14

yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?

15

The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.

16

The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!

17

Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time– with self-control and not in drunkenness.

18

Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.

19

Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

Ecclesiastes 10:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 10:16 say?
Ecclesiastes 10:16 in the NET Bible reads: “The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast 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 (NET): “The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast 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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