Logos Bible Study

Ecclesiastes 10:13–14

New International Reader’s Version (1998)Other versions

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13At first what he says is foolish.

In the end his words are very evil.

14He talks too much.

No one knows what lies ahead for him.

Who can tell him what will happen after he is gone?

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,

and the end of his talk is evil madness.

A fool multiplies words,

though no man knows what is to be,

and who can tell him what will be after him?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

At the beginning their words are folly;

at the end they are wicked madness—

and fools multiply words.

No one knows what is coming—

who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly,

but the end of his speaking is evil madness;

yet the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what will happen,

and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?

NLTNew Living Translation

Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions,

so their conclusions will be wicked madness;

they chatter on and on.

No one really knows what is going to happen;

no one can predict the future.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

He begins by saying what is foolish

and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion.

The fool talks too much,

for no one knows what will be.

Who can tell anyone what will happen in the future?

KJV 1900King James Version

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?