Wisdom Of The Teacher For College Students, Ch. 10Sýnishorn

The first two proverbs can also read that it will happen rather than it might happen depending on which translation you read. The Teacher believes that there is a better than average chance that these things will happen to you if you engage in these activities. The takeaway from these verses seems to be that life is hazardous!

Verse 10 is a famous verse. It’s profound in its simplicity. A dull ax is harder to use than a sharp one. It seems obvious that the better course of action would be to take the time to prepare the ax for cutting wood. I think that also applies to a lot of the areas of our lives today. Don’t just rush in; take the time to plan for what you want to do in this life!

In verse 11 we find a similar exhortation. It’s too late to call in a snake charmer if the snake has already bitten you! The time for that call has passed; better to call 911 now! The time to make wise decisions is before the action has taken place. Once we have done the deed, there is no need in trying to find a way to prevent us from doing it! Wise men and women will think about it ahead of time and get the help they need to make a right decision before they are forced to act.