Bible/Ecclesiastes/10

Ecclesiastes 10:19

10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. maketh: Heb. maketh glad the life

KJV

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A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things. ¶

10:20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. thought: or, conscience

What does Ecclesiastes 10:19 mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:19 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include לֶחֶם (lechem), עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh), שְׂחוֹק (sᵉchôwq). It connects to 8 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
A
feastלֶחֶםlechem/lekh'-em/H3899food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
is
madeעָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
for
laughter,שְׂחוֹקsᵉchôwq/sekh-oke'/H7814laughter (in merriment or defiance)
and
wineיַיִןyayin/yah'-yin/H3196wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
maketh
merry:שָׂמַחsâmach/saw-makh'/H8055probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
but
moneyכֶּסֶףkeçeph/keh'-sef/H3701silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
answerethעָנָהʻânâh/aw-naw'/H6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
all
things.
maketh:
Heb.
maketh
glad
the
life

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10:19

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 10:19
they spoke against him, he found that in the word of God which spoke for him, and spoke comfort to him, and then none of these things moved him. Those that have pleasure in communion with God may easily despise the censures of men, even of princes. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. Here David explains his meditating in God's statutes ( v. 23 ), which was of such use to him when princes sat and spoke against him. 1. Did the affliction make him sad? The word of God comforted him, and was his delight, more his delight than any of the pleasures either of court or camp, of city or country. Sometimes it proves that the comforts of the word of God are most pleasant to a gracious soul when other comforts are embittered. 2. Did it perplex him? Was he at a loss what to do when the princes spoke against him? God's statutes were his counsellors, and they counselled him to bear it patiently and commit his cause to God. God's testimonies will be the best counsellors both to princes and private persons. They are the men

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Deuteronomy 30:6

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

2 Samuel 7:27

For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. revealed: Heb. opened the ear

Matthew 16:23

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Romans 7:22

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:3

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: for sin: or, by a sacrifice for sin

Philippians 3:19

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Colossians 3:2

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. affection: or, mind

Topics

MoneyRichesWineWorldliness

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 10:19.

Deuteronomy 14:26

And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, desireth: Heb. asketh of thee

Genesis 14:18

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Genesis 18:5

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. comfort: Heb. stay are: Heb. you have passed

Genesis 47:15

And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.

Genesis 9:24

And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 10:19 say?

Ecclesiastes 10:19 (King James Version) reads: "A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. maketh: Heb. maketh glad the life"

Is Ecclesiastes 10:19 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 10:19 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 10:19, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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