Ecclesiastes Chapter Ten, Prognosticating Fools

Ecclesiastes 10:14b No man knows what is to be; who can tell him what will be after him? [15] The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!

The latter portion of verse 14 has been repeated numerous times in Ecclesiastes. This refrain may be found in Ecclesiastes 6:12 and 7:7. Here, then we have lucky number three. It is an earnest plea from a hopeless worldview that only sees as far as the horizon permits. Life under the sun is concerned with daily life and everything within the earth’s grasp.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Ten, Choosing One's Words

Ecclesiastes 10:12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up. [13] The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness. [14a] A fool also multiples words.

Again it seems like a verse from Proverbs as we approach this passage. There is a simple contrast between the wise man whose mouth, or words, is gracious. Meanwhile, the fool’s lips (or words) swallow him up. A wise man knows what to say, when to say it, and when to keep silent. Yes, there is such a time to keep silent rather than speak. We read, “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit,” Proverbs 17:27. Elsewhere we are instructed, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath,” James 1:19.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Ten, On Jobs & Babbling

Ecclesiastes 10:8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. [9] He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits wood may be endangered by it. [10] If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.

The idea in the first two verses is simply one of exposure to risk when one labors. Manual labor can harm the body, either through wear and tear or accident, or carelessness. The adages, “nothing ventured, nothing gained,” or “no risk, no reward,” seem apropos here. The preacher merely reminds his readership that there is risk involved in one’s effort; but also that there will never be results unless effort is applied.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Ten, Role Reversal

Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post; for conciliation pacifies great offenses. [5] There is an evil I have seen under the sun, as an error proceeding from the ruler: [6] Folly is set in great dignity, while the rich sit in a lowly place. [7] I have seen servants on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants.

Verse 4 is addressing the offense given to someone who lords over you, likely for negligence in duty. The solution, according to the preacher, is to continue at what you have been assigned to do. The key word to this passage is the term, “conciliation.” In the Oxford Dictionary it simply means, “make calm and content.” The KJV uses the word, “yielding” in its place. The Hebrew word is, “marpe,” and means, “lit. a medicine or deliverance, abstract, a cure or placidity.”

Ecclesiastes Chapter Ten, The Seat Of The Heart

Ecclesiastes 10:2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left. [3] Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

Verse 2 is a reference to strength. The right hand is always a reference to strength in Scripture. Take the name Benjamin, for instance. Jacob named his final son Benjamin, which means in the Hebrew, “Son of the right hand,” or “son of my strength,” Genesis 35:18. Furthermore, when Jesus answered the Sanhedrin as to whether He was the Christ, He told them, “Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven,” Matthew 26:64.