Ecclesiastes 10:15

15 The labour of fools will afflict them, who knows not to go to the city.

Ecclesiastes 10:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:15

The labour of the foolish wearieth everyone of them
The labour of fools, both in speaking and doing, weary those who have any concern with them, and themselves likewise, since all their labour is vain and fruitless; because he knoweth not how to go to the city;
to any city, the road to which is usually broad, and plain and easy to be found, and yet cannot be found by the foolish man; showing, that he that talks of abstruse things, things too high and wonderful for him, which he affects to know, must needs be a stranger to them, since things the most easy to be understood he is ignorant of, and wearies himself to find; or he does not know how to behave himself in a city, among citizens, in a civil and polite manner. The Targum is,

``he learns not to go to the city, where wise men dwell, to learn instruction from it.''

Some interpret it of the city of Jerusalem, where were the temple, sanhedrim, synagogues, schools but it may be better applied to the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, which fools or wicked men know not the way unto, nor do they seek after it; see ( Psalms 107:7 ) ( Matthew 7:13 Matthew 7:14 ) ; so Alshech interprets it of heaven.

Ecclesiastes 10:15 In-Context

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.

14 A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?

15 The labour of fools will afflict them, who knows not to go to the city.

16 Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.