Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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ECCLESIASTES

CHAPTER TEN:
WISE PROVERBS IN DAILY LIFE

Summary

Solomon creates something of a mini-proverbs here with wise words that may improve that futile existence under the sun. Wisdom among the politically powerful is illustrated. Wisdom in daily life is examined. The wise and stupid are contrasted. Certain truisms regarding political authority are discussed.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-7 – Wisdom and Authority

EC10:1 A single dead fly causes the perfumer’s oil to smell odious, and so a little foolishness can counter balance great wisdom. 244
244 A single dead fly causes the perfumer’s oil to smell odious, and so a little foolishness can counter balance great wisdom: Or, BAS: Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish; JPS: Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour; LXX: Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: and a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly; WEB: Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking odour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. There was such a perfumed oil in tabernacle worship. [Exodus 30:35] A wise person may commit a single foolish act and ruin much good.
EC10:2 The heart-motivation of the wise person is a protection, but the stupid person is defenseless. 245
245 The heart-motivation of the wise person is a protection, but the stupid person is defenseless: Or, ASV: A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left; BAS: The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong. Compare Ecclesiastes 10:14. [Proverbs 14:8; 17:16] The figure of speech in Hebrew using right and left hand likely refers to a person’s self-defense. The wise person is protected by a rightly motivated heart, while the stupid or foolish person’s motivation leaves him/her without protection.
EC10:3 Indeed, the very way a stupid person wanders about betrays the heart-motivation, so everyone knows how really stupid such a person is. 246
246 Indeed, the very way a stupid person wanders about betrays the heart-motivation, so everyone knows how really stupid such a person is: Or, BAS: And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish. Return to Ecclesiastes 5:3. [Proverbs 10:23; 13:16; 18:6, 7; 29:11] Follow a fool and see where he/she goes, observing their actions or words and it becomes clear how really stupid they are.
EC10:4 If the spirit of a ruler is roused against you do not resign your post, for the composed person who remains calm can quiet down even someone considerably upset. 247
247 If the spirit of a ruler is roused against you do not resign your post, for the composed person who remains calm can quiet down even someone considerably upset: Or, BAS: If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked; JPS: If the spirit [ROACH] of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences; LXX: If the spirit [PNEUMA] of the ruler rise up against thee; KNX: a prince’s anger; MOF: ruler’s wrath. Here “spirit” [PNEUMA] can be used of a mental attitude or attribute of the mind. Return to Ecclesiastes 8:3. [Proverbs 25:15; Titus 3:2] Storming out in an emotional fit will not improve your standing. Rulers are looking for men who can remain composed and self-controlled.
EC10:5 I have witnessed such a terrible misfortune under the sun: making the big mistake of rushing out of the presence of someone in authority. 248
248 I have witnessed such a terrible misfortune under the sun: making the big mistake of rushing out of the presence of someone in authority: Or, BAS: There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler; RHM: a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power. See the above notes.
EC10:6 [There are times when] stupidity is found in positions of great authority, while rich persons hold a lowly seat. 249
249 Stupidity is found in positions of great authority, while rich persons hold a lowly seat: Or, ASV: folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place; BAS: The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low; JPS: Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place. Many would agree with this assessment of political leaders. Return to Ecclesiastes 4:13. [Proverbs 28:12]
EC10:7 I have seen servants on horseback, while people of authority had to walk. 250
250 I have seen servants on horseback, while people of authority had to walk: Or, BAS: I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants. [Proverbs 19:10; 30:22]

Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 – Wisdom in Daily Life

EC10:8 Anyone digging a pit may fall into it, and the person breaking down a barricade may be bitten by a venomous snake. 251
251 Anyone digging a pit may fall into it, and the person breaking down a barricade may be bitten by a venomous snake: Or, BAS: He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment; LXX: He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bit. [Psalm 7:15; 9:15; Proverbs 26:27] Here is an example of “time and chance”. Return to Ecclesiastes 9:11. Christians cannot expect that God automatically protects them from any accidental harm. Reasonable care must be exercised in all endeavors.
EC10:9 A person handling stones may be injured, and the person chopping wood may be endangered. 252
252 A person handling stones may be injured, and the person chopping wood may be endangered: Or, BAS: He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger. Compare Deuteronomy 19:5 on accidents. Return to Ecclesiastes 9:11 on “time and chance.” These things happen during the futile existence under the sun. Nor are Christians protected from accidents of time and chance.
EC10:10 If the ax has not been sharpened then more effort is required, and just so wisdom produces a successful advantage. 253
253 If the ax has not been sharpened then more effort is required, and just so wisdom produces a successful advantage: Or, BAS: If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well; GDS: but wisdom is advantageous for winning success; MOF: successful skill comes from shrewd sense. Return to Ecclesiastes 9:10.
EC10:11 Just as the snake may strike without being charmed, so the slanderous tongue is no better. 254
254 Just as the snake may strike without being charmed, so the slanderous tongue is no better: Or, BAS: If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power; LXX: The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up. [Psalm 58:5; Jeremiah 8:17]

Ecclesiastes 10:12-15 – The Wise and Stupid

EC10:12 The words of the wise person gain favor by their graciousness, but the mouth of the stupid will only devour them. 255
255 The words of the wise person gain favor by their graciousness, but the mouth of the stupid will only devour them: Or, BAS: The words of a wise man’s mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction; JPS: The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself; KNX: wise utterance wins favour. [Psalm 37:30; 64:8; Proverbs 10:14, 21; 14:3; Ephesians 4:29] Compare the Nazarene at Matthew 12:35-37.
EC10:13 The first words are completely stupid, but the final outcome of such speech is a crazy irritation. 256
256 The first words are completely stupid, but the final outcome of such speech is a crazy irritation: Or, BAS: The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime; JPS: the end of his talk is grievous madness; LXX: mischievous madness; KNX: his preface idle talk, his conclusion madness. Foolish words may start out so, but their end causes irrational discomfort to others.
EC10:14 The stupid person will not stop talking without any idea what will happen. Who can stop such a person? 257
257 The stupid person will not stop talking without any idea what will happen. Who can stop such a person: Or, BAS: The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him; WEB: A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him; NEB: the fool talks on and on. Return to Ecclesiastes 6:12; 8:7. [Proverbs 10:19; 15:2; 27:1]
EC10:15 The stupid person is so tired from labor the way home is lost. 258
258 The stupid person is so tired from labor the way home is lost: Or, BAS: The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town; BER: the efforts of a fool weary him; NEB: the fool wearies himself to death with all his labour, for he does not know the way to town; GDS: when will the toil of the fool weary him who does not know enough to go to an interpreter; LAM: the labor of fools wears them out because they do not know how to buy and sell in the city.

Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 – People of Authority

EC10:16 O land, woe when your ruler is an incompetent child, or when your royalty is already feasting in the morning. 259
259 O land, woe when your ruler is an incompetent child, or when your royalty is already feasting in the morning: Or, BAS: Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning; MOF: a mere boy; KNX: woe to the land that has young blood on the throne; TAY: already drunk in the morning. [2 Chronicles 36:9; Isaiah 3:4]
EC10:17 O land, how blessed you are when your ruler is a child of free nobles, and when your rulers eat at the proper time to recover strength rather than drunken debauchery. 260
260 O land, how blessed you are when your ruler is a child of free nobles, and when your rulers eat at the proper time to recover strength rather than drunken debauchery: Or, BAS: Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting; LXX: Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed; KNX: not all in revelry. [Proverbs 31:4; Isaiah 28:7; Hosea 7:5]
EC10:18 Because of lazy arms the roof collapses, and because of drooping arms the house leaks. 261
261 Because of lazy arms the roof collapses, and because of drooping arms the house leaks: Or, BAS: When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house; LXX: By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces. [Proverbs 21:25; 24:33; Hebrews 6:12]
EC10:19 It takes happy people to make a feast, and though wine gladdens life money is the answer to everything. 262
262 It takes happy people to make a feast, and though wine gladdens life money is the answer to everything: Or, BAS: A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted; JPS: and money answereth all things; LXX: Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience. Return to Ecclesiastes 7:12; 9:7. [Psalm 104:15]
EC10:20 Not even in your mind 263 ever speak abusively of the ruler. Nor in the privacy of your bedroom slander the rich authority. For a little bird will expose the whole thing. 264
263 Mind: The LXX Greek uses SYNEIDESEI or “conscience.” See Paul’s use of this word in 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 10.
264 Not even in your mind ever speak abusively of the ruler. Nor in the privacy of your bedroom slander the rich authority. For a little bird will expose the whole thing: Or, ASV: Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter; BAS: Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it; LXX: Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech; NEB: do not speak ill of. Return to Ecclesiastes 7:12. Compare Exodus 22:28 with Acts 23:5. [Isaiah 8:21; 1 Peter 2:13] Jesus may echo the idea at Luke 12:2. Many have been surprised to their own ruin that slanderous opinions expressed in secret have their way of reaching the ears of others. Perhaps from here comes the saying, “a little bird told me.”

Mark Heber Miller