Ecclesiastes 10:4

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Ecclesiastes 10:2–6 · Berean Standard Bible

2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:

6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Ecclesiastes 8:3

Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.

1 Samuel 25:24

She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.

1 Samuel 25:25

My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.

1 Samuel 25:26

Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.

1 Samuel 25:27

Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.

1 Samuel 25:28

Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.

1 Samuel 25:29

And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.

1 Samuel 25:30

When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel,

1 Samuel 25:31

then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your maidservant.”

1 Samuel 25:32

Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!

1 Samuel 25:33

Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

1 Samuel 25:34

Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”

1 Samuel 25:35

Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”

1 Samuel 25:36

When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

1 Samuel 25:37

In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone.

1 Samuel 25:38

About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.

1 Samuel 25:39

On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking for her in marriage.

1 Samuel 25:40

When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”

1 Samuel 25:41

She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

1 Samuel 25:42

So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

1 Samuel 25:43

David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives.

1 Samuel 25:44

But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

Proverbs 25:15

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.