Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 10:11–14

¹¹If the snake bites before it is charmed,

there is no profit for the charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,

but the lips of a fool consume him.

¹³The beginning of his talk is folly,

and the end of his speech is evil madness.

¹⁴Yet the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what is coming,

and who can tell him what will come after him?

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
the snake	הַנָּחָ֖שׁ	han·nā·ḥāš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5175 serpent
bites	יִשֹּׁ֥ךְ	yiš·šōḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5391 bite
before	בְּלוֹא־	bə·lō·w-	Preposition-b; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
it is charmed	לָ֑חַשׁ	lā·ḥaš	Noun - masculine singular	H3908 a whispering, charming
there is no	וְאֵ֣ין	wə·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
profit	יִתְר֔וֹן	yiṯ·rō·wn	Noun - masculine singular	H3504 advantage, profit
for the charmer	לְבַ֖עַל	lə·ḇa·‘al	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1167 owner, lord

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The words	דִּבְרֵ֥י	diḇ·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1697 speech, word
of a wise man’s	חָכָ֖ם	ḥā·ḵām	Adjective - masculine singular	H2450 wise
mouth	פִי־	p̄î-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
are gracious	חֵ֑ן	ḥên	Noun - masculine singular	H2580 favour, grace
but the lips	וְשִׂפְת֥וֹת	wə·śip̄·ṯō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct	H8193 lip, speech, edge
of a fool	כְּסִ֖יל	kə·sîl	Noun - masculine singular	H3684 stupid fellow, dullard, fool
consume him	תְּבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃	tə·ḇal·lə·‘en·nū	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular; third person masculine singular	H1104 swallow down, swallow up, engulf

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The beginning	תְּחִלַּ֥ת	tə·ḥil·laṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8462 beginning
of his talk	דִּבְרֵי־	diḇ·rê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1697 speech, word
is folly	סִכְל֑וּת	siḵ·lūṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5531 folly
and the end	וְאַחֲרִ֣ית	wə·’a·ḥă·rîṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H319 after-part, end
of his speech	פִּ֔יהוּ	pî·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
is evil	רָעָֽה׃	rā·‘āh	Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
madness	הוֹלֵל֖וּת	hō·w·lê·lūṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H1948 id.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Yet the fool	וְהַסָּכָ֖ל	wə·has·sā·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5530 fool
multiplies	יַרְבֶּ֣ה	yar·beh	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
words	דְבָרִ֑ים	ḏə·ḇā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
No	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
one	הָאָדָם֙	hā·’ā·ḏām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
knows	יֵדַ֤ע	yê·ḏa‘	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3045 know
what	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
is coming	שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֔ה	še·yih·yeh	Pronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
and who	מִ֖י	mî	Interrogative	H4310 who?
can tell	יַגִּ֥יד	yag·gîḏ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
him	לֽוֹ׃	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
what	וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר	wa·’ă·šer	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
will come	יִֽהְיֶה֙	yih·yeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
after him	מֵֽאַחֲרָ֔יו	mê·’a·ḥă·rāw	Preposition-m; third person masculine singular	H310 behind