Ecclesiastes 10:10 — Bible Verse (KJV)

“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.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 — King James Version (KJV), 1611

Ecclesiastes 10:10 in 6 Bible Translations

Read Ecclesiastes 10:10 in the King James Version (KJV) and 5 other free, public-domain translations side by side.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 WEB — World English Bible (2000)

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

Ecclesiastes 10:10 — World English Bible

Ecclesiastes 10:10 ASV — American Standard Version (1901)

“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.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 — American Standard Version

Ecclesiastes 10:10 YLT — Young's Literal Translation (1862)

“If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom <FI>is<Fi> advantageous to make right.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 — Young's Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 10:10 DBY — Darby Translation (1890)

“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.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 — Darby Translation

Ecclesiastes 10:10 GEN — Geneva Bible (1599)

“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.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 — Geneva Bible

Ecclesiastes 10:10 in Context — Ecclesiastes 10

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.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

Read the full chapter: Ecclesiastes 10 — Everyone Who Calls on the Name of the Lord →

What Does Ecclesiastes 10:10 Mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:10 is a verse from the Book of Ecclesiastes, part of the Old Testament. It appears in Ecclesiastes chapter 10. Use The Living Sword's word-by-word study mode to explore every word in the original Hebrew and Aramaic.

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