Ecclesiastes 10:2-12

2 ¹A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.

3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he ²says to everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, ³do not leave your place, ⁴for calmness^[a] will lay great offenses to rest.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were ⁵an error proceeding from the ruler:

6 ⁶folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.

7 ⁷I have seen slaves ⁸on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

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

9 ¹¹He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who ¹²splits logs is endangered by them.

10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.^[b]

11 If the serpent bites before it is ¹³charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

12 The words of a wise man's mouth ¹⁴win him favor,^[c] but ¹⁵the lips of a fool consume him.

Ecclesiastes 10:2-12 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.

Cross References

• 1. [Ecclesiastes 2:14]
• 2. [Proverbs 13:16; Proverbs 18:2]
• 3. [Ecclesiastes 8:3]
• 4. [1 Sam. 25:24, 32, 33]; See Proverbs 25:15
• 5. Ecclesiastes 5:6
• 6. [Esther 3:1; Proverbs 28:12; Proverbs 29:2]
• 7. Proverbs 19:10; [Proverbs 30:22]
• 8. [Esther 6:8]
• 9. See Psalms 7:15
• 10. Amos 5:19
• 11. [1 Chronicles 22:2]
• 12. [Deuteronomy 19:5]
• 13. [Jeremiah 8:17]
• 14. Proverbs 10:32; Proverbs 22:11; [Luke 4:22]
• 15. See Proverbs 18:7

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew healing
• [b]. Or wisdom is an advantage for success
• [c]. Or are gracious