King James Version

Ecclesiastes 10:18

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

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Hebrew

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בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִםbaatsaltayimin slothfulnessעַצְלָהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, dual, absolute — “in slothfulness”, the ordinary formH6103(as abstractly) indolenceslothfulness.יִמַּ֣ךְyimakhdecayמָכַךְverb, niphal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “decay”, an unfinished actionH4355to tumble (in ruins); figuratively, to perishbe brought low, decay.הַמְּקָרֶ֑הhamqarehthe buildingמְקָרֶהdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the building”, the ordinary formH4746properly, something meeting, i.e. a frame (of timbers)building.וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּתuveshiflutand in idlenessשִׁפְלוּתconjunction, preposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “and in idleness”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8220remissnessidleness.יָדַ֖יִםyadayimhandיָדnoun, common, both genders, dual, absolute — “hand”, the ordinary formH3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, […יִדְלֹ֥ףyidlofdrop throughדָּלַףverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “drop through”, an unfinished actionH1811to drip; by implication, to weepdrop through, melt, pour out.הַבָּֽיִתhabayitthe familyבַּיִתdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the family”, the ordinary formH1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web,…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

Young’s Literal Translation

By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.

World English Bible

By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

Darby Translation

By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

Douay-Rheims

By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐν ὀκνηρίαις ταπεινωθήσεται ἡ δόκωσις, καὶ ἐν ἀργίᾳ χειρῶν στάξει ἡ οἰκία.