Ecclesiastes 10
10
Ecclesiastes 10
Miscellaneous Observations
1Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor;#10.1 Gk Vg Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 #
Prov 13.16; 18.2 Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense
and show to everyone that they are fools.
4 #
1 Sam 25.24–33; Prov 25.15; Eccl 8.3 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post,
for calmness will undo great offenses.
5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler: 6#Esth 3.1folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8 #
Ps 7.15; Prov 26.27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
9Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them,
and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
10If the iron is blunt and one does not whet the edge,
then more strength must be exerted,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11 #
Ps 58.4, 5; Jer 8.17 If the snake bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage in a charmer.
12 #
Prov 10.14, 32; 18.7; Lk 4.22 Words spoken by the wise bring them favor,
but the lips of fools consume them.
13 #
Eccl 7.25
The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,
and their talk ends in wicked madness,
14 #
Prov 15.2; Eccl 3.22; 6.12; 8.7 yet fools talk on and on.
No one knows what is to happen,
and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
15The toil of fools wears them out,
for they do not even know the way to town.
16 #
Isa 3.4, 5, 12; 5.11 Alas for you, O land, when your king is a child
and your princes feast in the morning!
17 #
Prov 31.4; Isa 5.11 Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman,
and your princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness!
18 #
Prov 24.30–34
Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19 #
Ps 104.15; Eccl 7.12 Feasts are made for laughter,
wine gladdens life,
and money meets every need.
20 #
Ex 22.28; 2 Kings 6.12; Lk 12.3; Acts 23.5 Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich, even in your bedroom,
for a bird of the air may carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
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Ecclesiastes 10: NRSVUE
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
