May 14
Reading: Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.
3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Happy 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!
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
The previous chapter closed with wisdom recommended and the words of the wise better than shouting and war. We wondered, “What is wisdom?” Ecclesiastes 10 presents a sampling of wisdom in the form of proverbs. Recall that a proverb is a pithy saying that expresses some truth or observation about the world and how it works.
This particular listing of proverbs has an intentional focus. Consistent with the message of Ecclesiastes, the focus of these sayings is on the nature of foolishness and vanity in this world. This is wisdom about foolishness.
The first verse presents an uncomfortable observation about the world: Folly often seems to overcome wisdom. This verse sets the tone of the chapter.
It is difficult not to take verse 2 out of its historical and literary context and apply it to modern politics. It makes me laugh. It might be my favorite proverb for just this reason.
I ought to point out, with contextual responsibility in mind, that in ancient times the right hand was associated with strength, competence, and honesty. The left hand was associated with deceit and theft.
Verse 19 is a picture of how the world seems to be. It is not really true, but people think it is.
Verse 20 tells you to be careful what you say in secret, or even to yourself.