Ecclesiastes10

New King James Version

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¹Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

²A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left.

³Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler:

⁶Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.

⁷I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.

⁸He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.

⁹He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.

¹⁰If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

¹¹A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.

¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;

¹³The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.

¹⁴A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?

¹⁵The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

¹⁶Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning!

¹⁷Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time— For strength and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

¹⁹A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

²⁰Do 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.

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Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ecclesiastes 10.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: To preserve a character for wisdom. (1-3). Respecting subjects and rulers. (4-10). Of foolish talk. (11-15). Duties of rulers and subjects. (16-20).

vv1-3

Those especially who make a profession of religion, should keep from all appearances of evil. A wise man has great advantage over a fool, who is always at a loss when he has anything to do. Sin is the reproach of sinners, wherever they go, and shows their folly.

vv4-10

Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred according to their merit. And those are often most forward to offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties, or the consequences. The same remark is applied to the church, or the body of Christ, that all the members should have the same care one for another.

vv11-15

There is a practice in the East, of charming serpents by music. The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; and contradiction only makes it the more violent. We must find the way to keep him gentle. But by rash, unprincipled, or slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon himself. Would we duly consider our own ignorance as to future events, it would cut off many idle words which we foolishly multiply. Fools toil a great deal to no purpose. They do not understand the plainest things, such as the entrance into a great city. But it is the excellency of the way to the heavenly city, that it is a high-way, in which the simplest wayfaring men shall not err, 8. But sinful folly makes men miss that only way to happiness.