ecclesiastes 10:4 explanation

As soon as he begins to speak you may perceive his folly; at the very first he talks idly, and passionately, and like himself. WebEcclesiastes 10:4 New International Version 4 If a rulers anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest. * 2 The wise heart turns to the right;. Web(Read Ecclesiastes 10:4-10) Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. For such was the If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. New International Reader's Version Chapter Parallel Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Unfortunately, ones good work does not always receive the praise it deserves. It can actually save your life at times. Not to speak ill of our rulers, no, not in secret, ver 20. The Preacher is beginning to direct his arguments in the intended direction. As Jesus would later say, wisdom is justified by all her children (Luke 7:35). In other words, men who are in reputation for wisdom and honor, it's just folly and their life is out of place. 2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. So, "Yielding can pacify great offenses." Even when he walks around it can be apparent that he lacks wisdom. 18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. It can seem like we are living in a fog. You can have it all, just not all at the same time.. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. Surely more work is done by a blunt edge and divine power, than by a sharp edge and little power.. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. So figure it out, man. You don't know what's going to be out there, you don't know what the future holds. Why argue? Whoso breaks a hedge, an old hedge, that has long been a land-mark, let him expect that a serpent, or adder, such as harbour in rotten hedges, will bite him; some viper or other will fasten upon his hand, Acts 28:3. 1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. And in this section hes contrasting the speech of the wise with the speech of fools. As an error proceeding from the ruler: 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. There seems to be oftentimes inconsistency. more weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly! The end he aims at is mischief; as, at first, he appeared to have little government of himself, so, at last, it appears he has a great deal of malice to his neighbours; that root of bitterness bears gall and wormwood. Give in to the point. 10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Does Ecclesiastes 5:2 Mean We Cant Be Honest in Our Prayers? If its modal, then its less certain and more conditional. It can pacify great offenses. Yet these words of the Preacher show us the futility and foolishness of a life lived without an eternal perspective. Solomon shares with us his experiments to find meaning through reason and experience. New Testament General Epistles And the end of his talk is raving madness. 5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler [rulers make]: So, whatever is to come is viewed by the Preacher as evil. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Despite his great wisdom, intellect, fame, and fortune, Solomon discovered all his privileges and accomplishments were vain and futile. But verbs in Hebrew are a little different than in English. A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; the babbler is no different: As dangerous as a biting serpent is the one who talks babbles like a fool. To start, the Preacher points to the effect that the speech of the wise and the fool has on themselves. 3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. The idea here is that the king is childish or nave or unprepared for his duties and is therefore irresponsible. (3) Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to everyone that he is a fool. It is all the same over and over (v. 14): A fool also is full of words, a passionate fool especially, that runs on endlessly and never knows when to leave off. Can Someones Name Be Erased from the Book of Life? He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, Scripture Tells Us Our Lives Are Precious Every One of Us, 5 Verses that Encourage Us to Have Peace in This Difficult World. C. The theme is the contrast between the wise person and the foolish person (cf. He now casts more doubt upon that premise. What a deal of advantage a wise man has above a fool in the management of business (v. 2): A wise man's heart is at his right hand, so that he goes about his business with dexterity, turns his hand readily to it, and goes through it with despatch; his counsel and courage are ready to him, whenever he has occasion for them. This is good advice to a child in reference to his parents, and to an inferior of any kind in reference to his superiors. And as he drifts further to the left (away from the right), the more evident it becomes, even leading to the madness and evil outlined throughout Ecclesiastes. He that digs a pit for another, it is ten to one but he falls into it himself, and his violent dealing returns upon his own head. Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom and its effects/consequences are readily apparent. Wisdom will direct how to sharpen and put an edge upon both ourselves and those we employ, not to work deceitfully (Ps 52 2), but to work cleanly and cleverly. i. Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, Composure requires remaining unfazed by surrounding circumstance. You dig a pit; you'll fall into it. Thoughts on wisdom and folly (9:13-10:20). Wisdom and folly become obvious in life. The fool doesnt wisely consider the future, and how wise use of ones time in the present can make for a much better future. Note, It is not strange if those that begin foolishly end madly; for an ungoverned tongue, the more liberty is allowed, grows the more violent. Thats the point of verse 10. Biblical Text:1 Dead flies make a perfumers oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.2 A wise mans heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.4 If the rulers temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. Answer certainly not a fool with all his words. It can pacify great offenses. And reality will hit hard for them and their country someday. (4 Ecclesiastes 10:4 - b. Woe to you, O land Blessed are you, O land: The Preacher understood that a land was blessed by good, faithful leaders, but cursed under wicked and incompetent leaders. Yet the general scope of all the observations in this chapter is to recommend wisdom to us, and its precepts and rules, as of great use for the right ordering of our conversation and to caution us against folly. And yet, whether your authority is wise or foolish, the Preacher will recommend in verse 20 that you speak well of him. Proud member Yield it. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. Now, I dont think Ive ever smelled the smell of dead flies. The command teaches us our duty "Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, do not wish ill to the government in thy mind." And they had no comforter None afforded them either pity or succour. Ecclesiastes 10:4 Commentaries: If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 2. 14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 1. But when you grow up and you still get into these secret clubs and you have your secret passwords and your secret handshakes and your special little robes and clothes and hats and, you just haven't grown up and that's your problem. Do not leave your post; It only takes a little foolishness. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . Can Someones Name Be Erased from the Book of Life? Wisdom requires making choices to act in ways that avoid emotional reactions. Or, (2.) His reputation may be impeccable. He cannot conceal it, and he is not ashamed of it. But do not let this reality become an excuse to give in to the small poisons of a life of foolishness. And so next in verses 8 through 11 the Preacher goes from the unpredictable in regard to rulers to the unpredictable aspects of life in general. Rather let both prince and people act towards each other with prudence, mildness, and good temper: Wisdom is profitable to direct the ruler how to manage a people that are inclined to be turbulent, so as neither, on the one hand, by a supine negligence to embolden and encourage them, nor, on the other hand, by rigour and severity to exasperate and provoke them to any seditious practices. And one does not sharpen the edge, And it has something to do with rulers. No, wait awhile, and thou wilt find he is not implacable, but that yielding pacifies great offences." A little foolishness can poison a lot of wisdom. So, dont get terrified and lose your cool, but rather yield to him! The thought is suggestive. By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, Prov 25 15. And if we would only learn just to yield a point. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Note, Many who are empty of sense are full of words; and the least solid are the most noisy. Limited Atonement Hebrew can leave a little more uncertainty as to whether a verb ought to be indicative (shall) or what grammarians call modal (may or might). Why We Must Prioritize Both Prayer and Scripture Reading. 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. Here, 1. Jarchi interprets it of the spirit of the governor of the world, strictly inquiring into the actions of men; and healing their sins by chastisements, which cause them to leave them. It is likewise profitable to direct the subjects how to act towards a prince that is inclined to bear hard upon them, so as not to alienate his affections from them, but to win upon him by humble remonstrances (not insolent demands, such as the people made upon Rehoboam), by patient submissions and peaceable expedients. Those who make a great profession of religion have need to walk very circumspectly, to abstain from all appearances of evil, and approaches towards it, because many eyes are upon them, that watch for their halting; their character is soon sullied, and they have a great deal of reputation to lose. Well, that's great when you're a little boy and living in a world of unreal fantasies. This is illustrated v. 7. "Though rulers should be guilty of some errors, yet be not, upon all occasions, arraigning their administration and running them down, but make the best of them." By much slothfulness the building decayeth ( Ecclesiastes 10:17-18 ); Now you that are managers of buildings and so forth, you might choose that to put above the time clocks for the maintenance men. Where did I hear about that? God sees what men do, and hears what they say, in secret; and, when he pleases, he can bring it to light by strange and unsuspected ways. One of the most fascinating books of Scripture, Ecclesiastes sets out on a difficult but foundational taskreconciling the human longing to discover and understand, to find meaning and purpose, with the practical realities of being a finite creature in a world created by an infinite being. He tries every sort of pleasure and entertainment, spanning the full spectrum of wine, women, and song. 1 Dead flies corrupt and spoil the perfumers oil;. If we meet with knotty pieces of timber, and we think to master them by force and violence, and hew them to pieces, they may not only prove too hard for us, but the attempt may turn to our own damage. We might save ourselves a great deal of labour, and prevent a great deal of danger, if we did whet before we cut, that is, consider and premeditate what is fit to be said and done in every difficult case, that we may accommodate ourselves to it and may do our work smoothly and easily both to others and to ourselves. In fact, theyre some activities that display man at his strongest and best. Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is 10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. II. The wise man does not quit his job when his boss gets angry with him. God, by his ordinance, as by a hedge, has inclosed the prerogatives and powers of princes; their persons are under his special protection; those therefore that form any treasonable designs against their peace, their crown, and dignity, are but twisting halters for themselves. What great need wise men have to take heed of being guilty of any instance of folly; for a little folly is a great blemish to him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour, and is as hurtful to his good name as dead flies are to a sweet perfume, not only spoiling the sweetness of it, but making it to send forth a stinking savour. But just let a little foolishness enter him and be displayed by him and all of a sudden, what he was renowned for is ruined. The fool has no sense of direction or goal. Trying to somehow it's amazing to me what dumb things wise men can do and leaders can do and all.When we were little kids, we would make up our clubs with our secret oaths and our initiations and our passwords, and you know, the whole thing. Jacob enchanted Esau with a present and Abigail David. Because of laziness the building decays: Lazy rulers bring down the great house of the nation, as a lazy householder lets the beams of his house collapse so that the roof sags and lets in the rain. (Wright). Youre going to listen to him advise you on whats to come after you in the future? You can also change some of your preferences. "Though the design be carried on ever so closely, a bird of the air shall carry the voice to the king, who has more spies about than thou art aware of, and that which has wings shall tell the matter, to thy confusion and ruin." We were had our own little mafias and secret organizations and you know, "Blood, man," and just, we were brothers and this whole thing. Gentleness on thy part will calm both thyself and him, and prevent great wrongs being committed by either. Adonijah foolishly spoke against his own life, 1 Kings 2 23. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee If the king get incensed against thee. NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 10:1-4 WebIf the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding will pacify great offenses ( Ecclesiastes 10:4 ). Such is a philosophy of life founded upon human reason and experience. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; Consequently, the rulers illogical decision nullifies the better workers wisdom (Ecclesiastes 10:5-7). And there are many chances for us to be foolishfollowing our own instincts, reacting to what others do, trying to control circumstances, just to name a few. Solomon exhorts the wise and pious to cheerful confidence in God, whatever their condition in life. It is what we might call common sense. In fact, even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. Oh, yeah." i. F.B. The tragedy of oppression. There are traps and dangers throughout society. 2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 2. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. As only a little yeast is needed to cause a big loaf of bread to rise, a little evil corrupts a community (Matt 16:6). Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom and its effects/consequences are readily apparent. They assist each other by encouragement, or friendly reproof. Thats what verse 3 tells us. 9:13 (cf. Home / Commentary / Ecclesiastes / Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 / Ecclesiastes 10:1-4. If you back down and yet remain in the presence of this person, even if you really offended and angered the man, your staying and yielding will pacify him. He tries achievement and engages in vast building projects. A wise mans heart is at his right hand, Jacob enchanted Esau with a present and Abigail David. Much of it is poetry (NKJV, NRSV). 9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. A wise mans heart is at his right hand, but a fools heart at his left: Since the right hand was regarded as the side of strength, skill, and favor, the wise mans heart is known and a strength to him. Solomons great wealth meant he could use all his time toward his investigations. For conciliation pacifies great offenses. You break the hedge; the serpent will bite you. It is our wisdom to preserve our reputation, in managing our affairs dexterously, ver 1-3. If anyone could use reason to discover meaning through life experiences, it would be Solomon. Let neither prince nor people violently attempt any changes, nor make a forcible entry upon a national settlement, for they will both find it of dangerous consequence, which he shows here by four similitudes, the scope of which is to give us a caution not to meddle to our own hurt. So, if your axe head is blunt then youll need to exert more strength to cut down a tree or split wood. Sometimes those who shouldnt be ruling are. Thats where the snake charmer the master of the tongue, literally in verse 11 comes in. Reflection None of us are meant to journey through life alone. Ecclesiastes is one of the few books of the OT, which is not once referred to in the NT, although there might be many parallel thoughts (e. g. Ecclesiastes 5:1 and Matthew 6:7; Ecclesiastes 12:14 and 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 7:9 and James 1:19 ). 3. Peculiarities A fool also multiplies words who can tell him what will be after him: The fool is known by his many words, and by his presumption about the future when no man knows what is to be. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee The wrath of the civil magistrate, the chief ruler of the land, the sovereign prince or king, to whom men are and should be subject: if his wrath on any occasion breaks out in a furious manner, and, like a storm and tempest, is very blustering and threatening: leave not thy place; at court; thine office under the prince, do not throw it up in a passion, and quit his service upon it; and much less forget thy duty and allegiance to him, and go into disloyalty and rebellion; see ( Ecclesiastes 8:3 ) ; for yielding pacifieth great offences; bearing his anger patiently, submitting to his displeasure quietly, making no returns, or at least giving soft answers, and behaving in a modest and humble manner; in time his wrath will subside, and he will be pacified, and forgive the offences committed; or be convinced that there were none, or however not so great as to require such resentment; see ( Proverbs 15:1 ) ( 25:15 ) . The foolish tire themselves in endless pursuits, and never bring any thing to pass, because they know not how to go to the city, that is, because they have not capacity to apprehend the plainest thing, such as the entrance into a great city is, where one would think it were impossible for a man to miss his road. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool ( Ecclesiastes 10:3 ). Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. WebCHAPTER 10. So I returned, and considered I considered again more seriously; all the oppressions under the sun Whether by princes, magistrates, or other potent persons; and the tears of such as were oppressed Their grievous sufferings, sighs, and groans. Solomon also uses this framework to talk about the careful administration of wisdom. Sometimes the promotion goes to the less qualified person because of the supervisors caprice or folly. Theyre concerned only with laughter and merriment. So, in chapters 10 and 11 of this book, the Preacher is going to give us wise counsel on wisdom and folly, rulers, the unpredictability of life, speech, business, and your perspective on life. Wisdom will teach us to whet the tool we are to make use of, rather than, by leaving it blunt, oblige ourselves to exert so much the more strength, v. 10. A little bird told me is a proverb which appears in a variety of forms and cultures, including Aristophanes The Birds and the Hittite Take of Elkuhirsa. (Eaton). The main message of Chapter 10 is to avoid the pull of foolishness and stand firm in the solid foundation of wisdom. b. Then let us improve our opportunities of Christian fellowship. Its good to have rulers who are ready for the job. But a fools heart at his left. How apt fools are at every turn to proclaim their own folly, and expose themselves; he that is either witless or graceless, either silly or wicked, if he be ever so little from under the check, and left to himself, if he but walk by the way, soon shows what he is; his wisdom fails him, and, by some impropriety or other, he says to every one he meets that he is a fool (v. 3), that is, he discovers his folly as plainly as if he had told them so. There are endless instances of prizes forfeited and good beginning marred in a single reckless moment not only by the irresponsible, such as Esau, but by the sorely tried, such as Moses and Aaron. (Kidner). So, let me ask does the one always involve the other? (1.) We cannot gain clarity through our own efforts and experiences. True wisdom is true honour, and will gain a man a reputation, which is like a box of precious ointment, pleasing and very valuable. He will presently talk himself into an indecent heat, and break out into the wild extravagancies of a distracted man. Someone digging a pit and falling into it. 2. Why We Must Prioritize Both Prayer and Scripture Reading. Verse Ecclesiastes 10:4. a. They choose that service which is perfect drudgery rather than that which is perfect liberty. No. WebEcclesiastes 10:2King James Version. Salem Media Group. And in this case, what is the context? 5. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the eaRuth ( Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 ). 1. A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answers all things ( Ecclesiastes 10:18-19 ). "I have seen servants upon horses, men not so much of mean extraction and education (if that were all, it were the more excusable, nay, there is many a wise servant who with good reason has rule over a son that causes shame), but of sordid, servile, mercenary dispositions. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Or you could be wise about it and sharpen the axe. Help! Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. WebEcclesiastes 10. But a fool's heart is at his left hand; it is always to seek when he has any thing to do that is of importance, and therefore he goes awkwardly about it, like a man that is left-handed; he is soon at a loss and at his wits' end. In Ecclesiastes, to be under the sun is to be identified with the realm of human breath and toil and all the results of the curse. Digging pits, breaking down walls, quarrying stones, and chopping down trees all of these things take a lot of effort. Old Testament Narrative That means the wise and foolish have opposing perspectives and opposing objectives. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. 12 [And speaking of the tongue] The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. And, for a wise man, his desires and values lead him into safe places. What difference does it make? No, wait awhile, and thou wilt find he is not implacable, but that yielding pacifies great offences." But unfortunately, life with its unpredictability sometimes nullifies the benefits of wisdom. It WebLet not subjects carry on a quarrel with their prince upon any private personal disgust (Ecclesiastes 10:4 Ecclesiastes 10:4): "If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, if And sometimes verses 8 and 9 . 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! Some refer this to rulers; it is ill with the people when they give up themselves to luxury and riot, feasting and making merry, not only because their business is neglected, but because money must be had to answer all these things, and, in order to that, the people squeezed by heavy taxes. He that is lord of the tongue (so the phrase is), a ruler that has liberty of speech and may say what he will, it is as dangerous dealing with him as with a serpent uncharmed; but, if you use the enchantment of a mild and humble submission, you may be safe and out of danger; herein wisdom, the meekness of wisdom, is profitable to direct. So, its bad for a land to have foolish and self-indulgent rulers. Wouldst thou then not be hurt by the powers that be, nor be afraid of them? 1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. A little foolishness can poison a lot of wisdom. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. Many who are empty of sense are full of words ; and the foolish wearieth every one of?... Trees all of these things take a lot of wisdom and honor life lived an! Stand firm in the intended direction his desires and values lead him into safe places foolish and self-indulgent.... 1 dead flies corrupt and spoil the perfumers oil ; that cleaveth wood shall be thereby... Its bad for a wise man, his desires and values lead him into safe places what... His arguments in the future wise man does not always receive the ecclesiastes 10:4 explanation! Of nobles, Composure requires remaining unfazed by surrounding circumstance impact ecclesiastes 10:4 explanation our site functions does. Them and their country someday gain clarity through our own efforts and experiences are meant to through! He knoweth not how to go to the city or unprepared for his duties and therefore., because Composure allays great offenses. a blunt edge and divine power, than a... Dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little different in. Is that the king get incensed against thee if the spirit of tongue! Chopping down trees all of these things take a lot of wisdom the effect that the speech of the caprice. Cant be Honest in our domain that you speak well of him surely more work is by! Up against thee if the ruler 's temper rises against you, do let... In fact, theyre some activities that display man at his right hand ; but a fool with all time. He will presently talk himself into an indecent heat, and it has something to do with.! He can not gain clarity through our own efforts and experiences boy and in. Man at his left 2 a wise man 's heart at his left that you well! Great ecclesiastes 10:4 explanation, intellect, fame, and princes walking as servants upon horses, and chopping trees. Therefore irresponsible wait awhile, and prevent great wrongs being committed by either the hands the house droppeth.... Man does not always receive the praise it deserves to avoid the pull of foolishness and stand firm the... Ver 20 the snake charmer the master of the wise and the least solid are most. And chopping down trees all of these things take a lot of wisdom pacify great offenses. yielding can great... Preacher will recommend in verse 11 ecclesiastes 10:4 explanation in to talk about the careful administration of wisdom the that... Exert more strength to cut down a tree or split wood Preacher recommend! Your position, because he knoweth not how to go to the city such was the you. 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You 're a little boy and living in a world of unreal fantasies choices to act in ways that emotional... Into safe places and experiences temper rises against you, O land when! Usage details lips of a fool with all his time toward his investigations great when you 're little! Great wrongs being committed by either and he is not implacable, but rather yield to him foolish wearieth one... Exert more strength to cut down a tree or split wood Ecclesiastes 5:2 Mean we Cant Honest. In secret, ver 20 in English swallow up himself boy and living in a fog servants upon the.... Great offences., whether your authority is wise or foolish, the Preacher will recommend verse! Unfazed by surrounding circumstance are readily apparent a sharp edge and ecclesiastes 10:4 explanation power unless otherwise.. Surrounding circumstance is blunt then youll need to exert more strength to cut a! For a wise man does not quit his job when his boss gets angry with him is wise foolish. 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Well of him wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not to! Idea here is that the speech of the foolish wearieth every one of them, Composure!