Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10 illustrates how even a small folly can tarnish a wise person's reputation, contrasting the prudent actions of the wise with the self-destructive words and deeds of a fool. The chapter offers counsel on navigating interactions with rulers and laments the societal error of incompetent leadership. It emphasizes that wisdom is crucial for effective action and warns against the consequences of idleness and careless work.

This chapter opens with the metaphor of dead flies spoiling ointment, signifying how a minor folly can diminish a reputation for wisdom. It sharply distinguishes between the discerning heart of the wise and the foolishness that guides a fool, whose words and actions reveal his lack of understanding. The Preacher advises prudence when confronting a ruler's displeasure, suggesting that yielding can pacify serious offenses, while also lamenting the societal imbalance where folly is often elevated and the worthy debased. Through various proverbs, the text warns against the dangers of carelessness and idleness, asserting that wisdom is profitable for effective direction. It further contrasts the gracious words of the wise with the destructive babbling and fruitless labor of a fool, whose talk leads to mischievous madness.

Ecclesiastes 10 commences by likening the ruinous effect of dead flies on an apothecary's ointment to how a small folly can significantly diminish the reputation of one esteemed for wisdom and honour. It then draws a clear distinction between the inherent prudence of the wise, whose heart is at his right hand, and the innate foolishness of a fool, whose heart is at his left, leading him to publicly expose his own lack of understanding. The Preacher offers practical counsel on interacting with authority, advising against abandoning one's position if a ruler's anger rises, as yielding can mitigate great offenses. He laments the societal 'evil under the sun' where folly is often elevated to great dignity, and the rich or worthy are placed in lowly positions, observing servants riding horses while princes walk as servants. The text employs vivid proverbs to illustrate the consequences of negligence and lack of skill: he who digs a pit may fall into it, and breaking a hedge invites a serpent's bite, while a blunt iron requires more strength, underscoring that wisdom is profitable for efficient direction. It further critiques the fool's speech, describing his words as beginning with foolishness and ending in mischievous madness, noting his incessant babbling and aimless labor weary all. The chapter then shifts to the impact of leadership, pronouncing woe upon a land ruled by a childish king and gluttonous princes, but blessing a land with a noble king and temperate leaders who eat for strength, not drunkenness. It also warns against the decay caused by much slothfulness and idleness. Finally, it acknowledges that feasts bring laughter and wine makes merry, but money answers all things, concluding with an admonition against cursing the king or the rich, even in thought, for such secret words may be supernaturally revealed.