Ecclesiastes 10:10

10 If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and skill is of no advantage to a man.

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 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.

9 He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.

10 If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and skill is of no advantage to a man.

11 If a serpent bite when there is no whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.

12 The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.