Ecclesiastes 10:13 “The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil…”

Ecclesiastes 10:13

The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

World English Bible

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

American Standard Version

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Geneva Bible 1599

The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse.

Darby Translation

The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Young's Literal Translation

The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.

Bible in Basic English

The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.

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Cross references

“beginning”

Proverbs 29:9 Judges 14:15 1 Samuel 20:26–33 1 Samuel 22:16–18 2 Kings 6:27 2 Kings 6:31

Proverbs 29:9 · BSB

If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

Judges 14:15 · BSB

So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”

1 Samuel 20:26–33 · BSB

Saul said nothing that day because he thought, “Something has happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”

1 Samuel 22:16–18 · BSB

But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”

2 Kings 6:27 · BSB

He answered, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?”

2 Kings 6:31 · BSB

He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

Read Ecclesiastes 10