Old Testament

Ecclesiastes 10

Folly, Prudence, and Disordered Rule

6 passages

Overview

Through a series of interlocking proverbs, Qoheleth warns how small acts of folly corrupt wisdom, how imprudent labor and reckless speech bring ruin upon the worker and the fool alike, how political life unravels when capable leaders are displaced by the self-indulgent, and how the governance of a kingdom, a household, or a soul depends ultimately on discipline, composure, and the ordering of the inner life.

Passages

1–3The Corrupting Power of Folly 4–7Wisdom, Folly, and the Disorder of Rulers 8–11The Dangers of Labor Without Prudence 12–15The Self-Destructive Speech of the Fool 16–19The Woe and Blessing of a Land: Wise vs. Foolish Leadership 20Guard Your Tongue, Guard Your Heart

Study Resources

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Ecclesiastes 10

¹Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

²A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.

³Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. ⁴If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler. ⁶Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. ⁸He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. ⁹Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it. ¹⁰If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

¹¹If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue. ¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. ¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. ¹⁴A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

¹⁵The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.

¹⁶Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

¹⁷Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

¹⁹A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

²⁰Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.

Ecclesiastes 9 Ecclesiastes 11