Eclesiastes 10:2

2 O coração do sábio se inclina para o bem,mas o coração do tolo, para o mal.^[a]

Eclesiastes 10:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:2

A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand
This is not designed to express the direct position and situation of the heart of man, wise or foolish, which is the same in both; and which, according to anatomists, is in the middle of the body, inclining to the left side; but the understanding and wisdom of men, as Aben Ezra observes; which, with a wise man, is ready a hand to direct and assist him in any affair; and which under the influence of it, he goes about with great readiness and dexterity, and performs it with great ease and facility, without sinister ends and selfish views; it inclines him to pursue the true way to honour, heaven, and happiness, which lies to the right; to seek things that are above, at the right hand of God; and, in all, his honour and glory; but a fool's heart [is] at his left;
he is at a loss for wisdom and understanding to direct him, when he has an affair of any moment upon his hand; which he goes about in an awkward manner, as left handed persons do, and has sinister ends in what he does; and he is to every good work reprobate and unfit, and seeks earth and earthly things, which lie to the left, and in all himself. The Targum is,

``the heart of a wise man is to get the law, which was given by the right hand of the Lord; and the heart of a fool to get the goods of gold and silver:''

so Jarchi,

``his wisdom is ready to incline him (the wise man) to the right hand way for his good; but the heart of a fool to pervert him from it.''

The ancients ^F15 used to call things wise and prudent the right hand and things foolish the left hand.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Suidas in voce (dexia) .

Eclesiastes 10:2 In-Context

1 Assim como a mosca morta produz mau cheiro e estraga o perfume,também um pouco de insensatez pesa mais que a sabedoria e a honra.

2 O coração do sábio se inclina para o bem,mas o coração do tolo, para o mal.

3 Mesmo quando anda pelo caminho,o tolo age sem o mínimo bom sensoe mostra a todos que não passa de tolo.

4 Se a ira de uma autoridade se levantar contra você,não abandone o seu posto;a tranquilidade evita grandes erros.

5 Há outro mal que vi debaixo do sol,um erro cometido pelos que governam:

Footnotes

• [a] Hebraico: "para a direita…para a esquerda."