King James Version

Ecclesiastes 10:11

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

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Hebrew

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אִםimoh thatאִםconjunction — “oh that”H518used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), t…יִשֹּׁ֥ךְyishokhebiteנָשַׁךְverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “bite”, an unfinished actionH5391to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loanbite, lend upon usury.הַנָּחָ֖שׁhanachashthe serpentנָחָשׁdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the serpent”, the ordinary formH5175a snake (from its hiss)serpent.בְּלוֹאbeloin no , -r,לֹאpreposition, particle, negative — “in no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…לָ֑חַשׁlachashprayerלַחַשׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “prayer”, the ordinary formH3908properly, a whisper, i.e. by implication, (in a good sense) a private prayer, (in a bad one) an incantation; concretely, an amuletcharmed, earring, enchantment, orator, prayer.וְאֵ֣יןveeynand elseאַיִןconjunction, particle, negative — “and else”H369a non-entity; generally used as a negative particleelse, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן).יִתְר֔וֹןyitronbetterיִתְרוֹןnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “better”, the ordinary formH3504preeminence, gainbetter, excellency(-leth), profit(-able).לְבַ֖עַלlevaalto husbandבַּעַלpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “to husband”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1167a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)[phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath i…הַלָּשֽׁוֹןhalashonthe tongueלָשׁוֹןdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the tongue”, the ordinary formH3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)[phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

Young’s Literal Translation

If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.

World English Bible

If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

Darby Translation

If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.

Douay-Rheims

If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

If a serpent bite when there is no charmer's whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐὰν δάκῃ ὄφις ἐν οὐ ψιθυρισμῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περίσσεια τῷ ἐπᾴδοντι.