Ecclesiastes 10:10

10 If an ax is dull and one doesn't sharpen it first, then one must exert more force. It's profitable to be skillful and wise.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the iron be blunt
With which a man cleaves wood: the axe, made of iron: and he do not whet the edge;
with some proper instrument to make it sharper, that it may cut the more easily; then must he put to more strength;
he must give a greater blow, strike the harder, and use more force; and yet it may not be sufficient, or; it may be to no purpose, and he himself may be in the greatest danger of being hurt; as such are who push things with all their might and main, without judgment and discretion; but wisdom [is] profitable to direct;
this is the "excellency" of wisdom, that it puts a man in the right way of doing things, and of doing them right; it directs him to take the best methods, and pursue the best ways and means of doing things, both for his own good and the good of others; and so it is better than strength, ( Ecclesiastes 9:16 Ecclesiastes 9:18 ) .

Ecclesiastes 10:10 In-Context

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 If an ax is dull and one doesn't sharpen it first, then one must exert more force. It's profitable to be skillful and wise.

11 If a snake bites before it's charmed, then there's no profit for the snake charmer.

12 Words from a wise person's mouth are beneficial, but fools are devoured by their own lips.