Ecclesiastes 10
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.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
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.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
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!
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
World Behind This Chapter
Explore the people, places, language, history, and material world connected to Ecclesiastes 10.
What do the construction accidents in Ecclesiastes 10 tell us about wisdom?
Pits, breached walls, quarried stones, split logs, and dull axes turn practical work into wisdom examples. Competence involves anticipating risk and adjusting technique, not merely possessing abstract knowledge.
What is unusual about the ruler imagery in this chapter?
The sayings contrast noble and foolish rulers, servants and princes, morning feasting and disciplined banquets. They read like court observations rather than a coherent portrait of one government.
What does “a bird of the air shall carry the voice” assume?
The proverb vividly warns that private speech can travel unexpectedly. It is not describing a communication technology; bird imagery dramatizes the impossibility of fully controlling gossip or political speech.
Research PathsCurated links for exploring this chapter 3
Language & Literature2
- How to Respond When a Ruler Becomes AngryTranslation Insights and Perspectives
Examines Ecclesiastes 10:4 and its advice not to abandon one’s position when confronted by an angry ruler. The commentary explains the Hebrew language of rising anger, remaining calm, and how a measured response may counter political folly more effectively than panic or rebellion.
- Why Dead Flies Spoil the Perfumer’s OilTranslation Insights and Perspectives
Explains Ecclesiastes 10:1 and the comparison between decomposing flies contaminating costly perfume and a small amount of folly outweighing wisdom and honor. It helps readers recognize the verse as a compact wisdom metaphor about disproportionate damage.
Artifacts & Manuscripts1
- Ancient Eastern Mediterranean Perfume BottleThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Illustrated fifth-century BCE glass perfume bottle from the eastern Mediterranean. It helps readers visualize the valuable scented oil in Ecclesiastes 10:1, where a few dead flies spoil an entire container and become a metaphor for how a small act of foolishness can ruin a respected reputation.
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