Ecclesiastes 10:1-11

A Little Foolishness

1 Dead flies make a ¹perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish ²man's heart directs him toward the left.

3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he ³demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the ruler's temper rises against you, ⁴do not abandon your position, because ⁵composure allays great offenses.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler -

6 ⁶folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

7 I have seen ⁷slaves riding ⁸on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

8 ⁹He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a ¹⁰serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.

9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

11 If the serpent bites ¹¹before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer *.

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Ecclesiastes 10:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 10

This chapter treats of the difference between wisdom and folly; and of the preferableness of the one, to the other, especially in civil government: folly is compared to a dead or deadly fly; a little of which as much hurts a wise man's reputation, as that does the most precious ointment, Ec 10:1. A wise man and a fool differ in the situation of their heart; which is in the one on the right hand, in the other on the left, Ec 10:2; the folly of the latter lies not only in his heart, but betrays itself throughout the whole of his conversation, Ec 10:3. And it is one part of wisdom in a subject to bear patiently the anger of his prince, and not in a passion and at once leave his service, Ec 10:4. And, among the follies of princes, this is a great one; to bestow their honours and favours on improper persons, to the neglect of such as are deserving, Ec 10:5-7. And several proverbial expressions are used, as cautions to a wise man against plotting mischief to others; breaking in upon the constitution and laws of a commonwealth; weakening the strength of the state by an methods, and making discord in it, and carrying thin by mere strength and force; when, if wisdom used, it would direct to proper ways and means, by which things would be managed to the best advantage, Ec 10:8-10. Then the babbling of fools against a government is exposed, which is like the secret bite of a serpent, Ec 10:11; and the difference between the words of wise men, which express grace and kindness, and are amiable and acceptable to men; and those of fools, which destroy themselves, begin in folly, and end in mischief; are noisy, and without meaning; do not direct to things most plain and easy, but wearisome and fatiguing to themselves and others, Ec 10:12-15. Next the unhappiness of a land is observed, when the governors of it are childish, intemperate, slothful, and prodigal; the happiness of a country when it is the reverse, Ec 10:16-19; and the chapter is concluded with advice not to curse a king, or any great personage; no, not in the most private and secret manner; since, by one means or another, it will be discovered Ec 10:20.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 11

1. Exodus 30:25
2. Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1
3. Proverbs 13:16; Proverbs 18:2
4. Ecclesiastes 8:3
5. 1 Samuel 25:24-33; Proverbs 25:15
6. Esther 3:1, 5; Proverbs 28:12; Proverbs 29:2
7. Proverbs 19:10
8. Esther 6:8-10
9. Psalms 7:15; Proverbs 26:27
10. Amos 5:19
11. Psalms 58:4, 5; Jeremiah 8:17

Footnotes 6

[a]. Lit "heart"
[b]. Lit "says"
[c]. Lit "spirit"
[d]. Lit "iron"
[e]. Lit "strengthen"
[f]. Lit "without enchantment"