Ecclesiastes 10 Commentary: Wisdom, Folly, and Leadership
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 10 delves into the contrasting realms of wisdom and folly, highlighting their pervasive influence on individuals and societies. Solomon masterfully uses vivid imagery and practical observations to illustrate the consequences of each, offering timeless guidance for navigating life's complexities.
The Pervasive Impact of Folly (Ecclesiastes 10:1-3)
Solomon begins by emphasizing the subtle yet destructive nature of foolishness. Ecclesiastes 10:1 states, "Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink; so a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor." Just as a few dead flies can spoil a fragrant perfume, a small amount of folly can contaminate a reputation built on wisdom and honor. The impact is disproportionate; a moment of foolishness can negate years of wise conduct. This verse serves as a potent reminder to guard against even minor lapses in judgment.
He continues in Ecclesiastes 10:2-3, "A wise person’s heart goes to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone he is a fool." This highlights the inherent difference in direction and understanding between the wise and the foolish. The wise person is discerning, while the fool, even in the simplest of tasks, betrays their lack of understanding. It's not something they can easily hide; their folly becomes evident to all. The fool inevitably goes public with his foolishness. Whichever way a wise man goes, you can count on a fool heading in the opposite direction. Although a man’s wisdom may be unseen or even forgotten by everyone but God (9:15), a fool’s actions are visible to all.
Wisdom's Advantage and Life's Realities (Ecclesiastes 10:6-10)
While wisdom is undoubtedly superior to foolishness, Solomon doesn't paint an unrealistic picture. He acknowledges that wisdom doesn't guarantee a perfect, accident-free life. Ecclesiastes 10:6 notes, "folly is placed in great high places, and the rich sit in low places." This speaks to the reality that sometimes, fools rise to positions of power while the capable remain overlooked.
The wise person understands that negative contingencies are a part of life (Ecclesiastes 10:8-9). However, wisdom provides a significant advantage, an edge that is invaluable (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Wisdom gives you an edge that you don’t want to be without.
The Power of Words (Ecclesiastes 10:12-14)
Solomon turns his attention to the impact of our words. "The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious" (Ecclesiastes 10:12). Wise words are pleasing, filled with grace, and contribute to building up others. In stark contrast, "the beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness" (Ecclesiastes 10:13). A fool's words escalate from simple folly to utter madness. Furthermore, "A fool multiplies words" (Ecclesiastes 10:14). Elsewhere, Solomon reminds us, “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable” (Proverbs 10:19). The sheer volume of a fool's speech often reveals their lack of understanding and contributes to their downfall.
Leadership and National Well-being (Ecclesiastes 10:16-17)
The character of a nation's leaders profoundly impacts its citizens. "Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!" (Ecclesiastes 10:16). A nation suffers when led by immature, irresponsible rulers. Conversely, "Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness!" (Ecclesiastes 10:17). A responsible, disciplined leader brings blessing and stability to the nation. The character of a nation’s rulers is crucial since its citizens will inevitably be blessed or suffer as a result of their leadership.
The Consequences of Neglect (Ecclesiastes 10:18)
Solomon uses a simple yet powerful image to illustrate the consequences of neglect: "Because of laziness the roof caves in, and through weakness of hands the house leaks." This is an illustration of what scientists call the second law of thermodynamics. Things left unattended will tend toward decay, decline, and disorder. You don’t have to intentionally break something; just fail to take care of it. This principle applies not only to the physical realm but also to the spiritual. Neglecting one's spiritual life inevitably leads to its deterioration.
The Importance of Discretion (Ecclesiastes 10:20)
Solomon concludes with a word of caution regarding our speech, particularly in relation to those in authority. "Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts, nor curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a winged creature tell the matter." This advice sounds like Solomon was anticipating our age of YouTube and social media! And indeed, things said in secret often have a way of getting out. Be discerning. Our words, even those spoken in private, can have unintended consequences.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 10 delves into the contrasting realms of wisdom and folly, highlighting their pervasive influence on individuals and societies. Solomon masterfully uses vivid imagery and practical observations to illustrate the consequences of each, offering timeless guidance for navigating life's complexities.
The Pervasive Impact of Folly (Ecclesiastes 10:1-3)
Solomon begins by emphasizing the subtle yet destructive nature of foolishness. Ecclesiastes 10:1 states, "Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink; so a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor." Just as a few dead flies can spoil a fragrant perfume, a small amount of folly can contaminate a reputation built on wisdom and honor. The impact is disproportionate; a moment of foolishness can negate years of wise conduct. This verse serves as a potent reminder to guard against even minor lapses in judgment.
He continues in Ecclesiastes 10:2-3, "A wise person’s heart goes to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone he is a fool." This highlights the inherent difference in direction and understanding between the wise and the foolish. The wise person is discerning, while the fool, even in the simplest of tasks, betrays their lack of understanding. It's not something they can easily hide; their folly becomes evident to all. The fool inevitably goes public with his foolishness. Whichever way a wise man goes, you can count on a fool heading in the opposite direction. Although a man’s wisdom may be unseen or even forgotten by everyone but God (9:15), a fool’s actions are visible to all.
Wisdom's Advantage and Life's Realities (Ecclesiastes 10:6-10)
While wisdom is undoubtedly superior to foolishness, Solomon doesn't paint an unrealistic picture. He acknowledges that wisdom doesn't guarantee a perfect, accident-free life. Ecclesiastes 10:6 notes, "folly is placed in great high places, and the rich sit in low places." This speaks to the reality that sometimes, fools rise to positions of power while the capable remain overlooked.
The wise person understands that negative contingencies are a part of life (Ecclesiastes 10:8-9). However, wisdom provides a significant advantage, an edge that is invaluable (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Wisdom gives you an edge that you don’t want to be without.
The Power of Words (Ecclesiastes 10:12-14)
Solomon turns his attention to the impact of our words. "The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious" (Ecclesiastes 10:12). Wise words are pleasing, filled with grace, and contribute to building up others. In stark contrast, "the beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness" (Ecclesiastes 10:13). A fool's words escalate from simple folly to utter madness. Furthermore, "A fool multiplies words" (Ecclesiastes 10:14). Elsewhere, Solomon reminds us, “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable” (Proverbs 10:19). The sheer volume of a fool's speech often reveals their lack of understanding and contributes to their downfall.
Leadership and National Well-being (Ecclesiastes 10:16-17)
The character of a nation's leaders profoundly impacts its citizens. "Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!" (Ecclesiastes 10:16). A nation suffers when led by immature, irresponsible rulers. Conversely, "Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness!" (Ecclesiastes 10:17). A responsible, disciplined leader brings blessing and stability to the nation. The character of a nation’s rulers is crucial since its citizens will inevitably be blessed or suffer as a result of their leadership.
The Consequences of Neglect (Ecclesiastes 10:18)
Solomon uses a simple yet powerful image to illustrate the consequences of neglect: "Because of laziness the roof caves in, and through weakness of hands the house leaks." This is an illustration of what scientists call the second law of thermodynamics. Things left unattended will tend toward decay, decline, and disorder. You don’t have to intentionally break something; just fail to take care of it. This principle applies not only to the physical realm but also to the spiritual. Neglecting one's spiritual life inevitably leads to its deterioration.
The Importance of Discretion (Ecclesiastes 10:20)
Solomon concludes with a word of caution regarding our speech, particularly in relation to those in authority. "Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts, nor curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a winged creature tell the matter." This advice sounds like Solomon was anticipating our age of YouTube and social media! And indeed, things said in secret often have a way of getting out. Be discerning. Our words, even those spoken in private, can have unintended consequences.