1 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.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 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.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 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.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 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!
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20 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.
1 Dead H4194 flies H2070 cause the ointment H8081 of the apothecary H7543 to send forth H5042 a stinking savour: H887 so doth a little H4592 folly H5531 him that is in reputation H3368 for wisdom H2451 and honour. H3519
2 A wise man's H2450 heart H3820 is at his right hand; H3225 but a fool's H3684 heart H3820 at his left. H8040
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool H5530 walketh H1980 by the way, H1870 his wisdom H3820 faileth H2638 him, and he saith H559 to every one that he is a fool. H5530
4 If the spirit H7307 of the ruler H4910 rise up H5927 against thee, leave H3240 not thy place; H4725 for yielding H4832 pacifieth H3240 great H1419 offences. H2399
5 There is H3426 an evil H7451 which I have seen H7200 under the sun, H8121 as an error H7684 which proceedeth H3318 from H6440 the ruler: H7989
6 Folly H5529 is set H5414 in great H7227 dignity, H4791 and the rich H6223 sit H3427 in low place. H8216
7 I have seen H7200 servants H5650 upon horses, H5483 and princes H8269 walking H1980 as servants H5650 upon the earth. H776
8 He that diggeth H2658 a pit H1475 shall fall H5307 into it; and whoso breaketh H6555 an hedge, H1447 a serpent H5175 shall bite H5391 him.
9 Whoso removeth H5265 stones H68 shall be hurt H6087 therewith; and he that cleaveth H1234 wood H6086 shall be endangered H5533 thereby.
10 If the iron H1270 be blunt, H6949 and he do not whet H7043 the edge, H6440 then must he put H1396 to more strength: H2428 but wisdom H2451 is profitable H3504 to direct. H3787
11 Surely the serpent H5175 will bite H5391 without enchantment; H3908 and a babbler H3956 H1167 is no better. H3504
12 The words H1697 of a wise man's H2450 mouth H6310 are gracious; H2580 but the lips H8193 of a fool H3684 will swallow up H1104 himself.
13 The beginning H8462 of the words H1697 of his mouth H6310 is foolishness: H5531 and the end H319 of his talk H6310 is mischievous H7451 madness. H1948
14 A fool H5530 also is full H7235 of words: H1697 a man H120 cannot tell H3045 what shall be; and what shall be after H310 him, who can tell H5046 him?
15 The labour H5999 of the foolish H3684 wearieth H3021 every one of them, because he knoweth H3045 not how to go H3212 to the city. H5892
16 Woe H337 to thee, O land, H776 when thy king H4428 is a child, H5288 and thy princes H8269 eat H398 in the morning! H1242
17 Blessed H835 art thou, O land, H776 when thy king H4428 is the son H1121 of nobles, H2715 and thy princes H8269 eat H398 in due season, H6256 for strength, H1369 and not for drunkenness! H8358
18 By much slothfulness H6103 the building H4746 decayeth; H4355 and through idleness H8220 of the hands H3027 the house H1004 droppeth through. H1811
19 A feast H3899 is made H6213 for laughter, H7814 and wine H3196 maketh merry: H8055 H2416 but money H3701 answereth H6030 all things.
20 Curse H7043 not the king, H4428 no not in thy thought; H4093 and curse H7043 not the rich H6223 in thy bedchamber: H2315 H4904 for a bird H5775 of the air H8064 shall carry H3212 the voice, H6963 and that which hath H1167 wings H3671 shall tell H5046 the matter. H1697
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; `so' doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one `that' he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; `and' he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also multiplieth words: `yet' man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Happy 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!
18 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
1 Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly!
2 The heart of the wise `is' at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3 And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He `is' a fool.'
4 If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
6 He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
7 I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
10 If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom `is' advantageous to make right.
11 If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
12 Words of the mouth of the wise `are' gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth `is' folly, And the latter end of his mouth `Is' mischievous madness.
14 And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
16 Wo to thee, O land, when thy king `is' a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
17 Happy art thou, O land, When thy king `is' a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
18 By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
19 For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
20 Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
2 The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10 If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, And your princes eat in the morning!
17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes the life glad; And money is the answer for all things.
20 Don't curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; And don't curse the rich in your bedchamber: For a bird of the sky may carry your voice, And that which has wings may tell the matter.
1 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.
2 The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.
3 And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.
4 If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:
6 The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.
8 He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.
9 He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.
10 If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.
11 If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.
13 The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.
14 The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?
15 The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.
16 Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.
17 Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.
18 When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
19 A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.
20 Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 10
This chapter seems to be like Solomon's proverbs, a collection of wise sayings and observations, rather than a part of his sermon; but the preacher studied to be sententious, and "set in order many proverbs,' to be brought in in his preaching. Yet the general scope of all the observations in this chapter is to recommend wisdom to us, and its precepts and rules, as of great use for the right ordering of our conversation and to caution us against folly.
Happy the nation when princes and people make conscience of their duty according to these rules.
Ecc 10:1-3
In these verses Solomon shows,
Ecc 10:4-11
The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. In Solomon's reign the people were very rich, and lived in prosperity, which perhaps made them proud and petulant, and when the taxes were high, though they had enough to pay them with, it is probable that many conducted themselves insolently towards the government and threatened to rebel. To such Solomon here gives some necessary cautions.
Ecc 10:12-15
Solomon, having shown the benefit of wisdom, and of what great advantage it is to us in the management of our affairs, here shows the mischief of folly and how it exposes men, which perhaps comes in as a reflection upon those rulers who set folly in great dignity.
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-Sub illis
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Montibus (inquit) erant, et erant sub montibus illis-
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Under those mountains were they,
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They were under those mountains, I say-
whence vain repetitions are called Battologies, Mt. 6:7.Ecc 10:16-20
Solomon here observes,