Ecclesiastes 10:18–20

18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;

because of idle hands, the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter,

wine makes life merry,

and money is the answer for everything.

20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird in the sky may carry your words,

and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,

and through indolence the house leaks.

19 Bread is made for laughter,

and wine gladdens life,

and money answers everything.

20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,

nor in your bedroom curse the rich,

for a bird of the air will carry your voice,

or some winged creature tell the matter.

18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

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

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.

18 Laziness leads to a sagging roof;

idleness leads to a leaky house.

19 A party gives laughter,

wine gives happiness,

and money gives everything!

20 Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts.

And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom.

For a little bird might deliver your message

and tell them what you said.

18 Because of laziness the building decays,

And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter,

And wine makes merry;

But money answers everything.

20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought;

Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;

For a bird of the air may carry your voice,

And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

18 If someone is lazy, the roof will begin to fall.

If he doesn’t fix it, the house will leak.

19 A party makes you feel good,

wine makes you feel happy,

and money buys anything.

20 Don’t make fun of the king,

and don’t make fun of rich people, even in your bedroom.

A little bird might carry your words;

a bird might fly and tell what you said.

18 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things. 20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything. 20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

18 A roof sags because of laziness. A house leaks because of idle hands. 

19 A meal is made for laughter, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is the answer for everything. 

20 Don’t curse the king even in your thoughts, and don’t curse rich people even in your bedroom. A bird may carry your words, or some winged creature may repeat what you say. 

18 Because of laziness the roof caves in,

and because of negligent hands the house leaks.

19 A feast is prepared for laughter,

and wine makes life happy,

and money is the answer for everything.

20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,

and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom,

for a bird of the sky may carry the message,

and a winged creature may report the matter.

18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,

and through indolence the house leaks.

19 Feasts are made for laughter,

wine gladdens life,

and money meets every need.

20 Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich, even in your bedroom,

for a bird of the air may carry your voice,

or some winged creature tell the matter.

18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,

and through idleness of hands the house leaks.

19 Feasts are held for celebration,

wine cheers the living,

and money answers everything.

20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,

and do not curse the rich even in your own bedroom,

for a bird of the sky may carry your voice;

a winged messenger may repeat your words.

18 When a man won’t work, the roof falls down.

When his hands aren’t busy, the house leaks.

19 People laugh at a dinner party.

And wine makes life happy.

People think money can buy everything.

20 Don’t call down curses on the king.

Don’t even think about doing it.

Don’t call down curses on rich people.

Don’t even do it in your bedroom.

A bird might fly away and carry your words.

It might report what you said.