Ecclesiastes 10

This chapter belongs to the latter part of Ecclesiastes. Picking up the saying at the end of Ecclesiastes 9, "Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good" (Ecclesiastes 9:18), it sets out a string of brief maxims contrasting wisdom and folly.

Outline

• Verses 1–3 As dead flies make the perfumer's ointment stink, a little folly ruins wisdom and honor. Even as he walks along the way, the fool displays his folly.
• Verses 4–7 The Preacher advises his hearers not to leave their place even when the ruler is angry. He points to an evil "under the sun": an inverted order in which fools are set in high places, servants ride on horses, and princes (officials) walk on foot.
• Verses 8–11 Digging a pit or breaking through a wall carries risk. A tool whose edge has not been sharpened demands more strength, and wisdom is profitable for accomplishing a task. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, the charmer is of no use.
• Verses 12–15 The words of the wise are gracious, but the lips of the fool swallow him up. The fool multiplies words, yet no one knows what is to come.
• Verses 16–20 Woe to the land whose king is a child and whose princes feast in the morning; blessed is the land whose princes eat in due season. Through slothfulness the house leaks. The Preacher warns against cursing the king or the rich even in one's thoughts, for a bird of the air will carry the report.

Key Verses

• Ecclesiastes 10:1 "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour" — This expresses the chapter's theme that a small fault can destroy trust built up over time.
• Ecclesiastes 10:10 "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength" — Wisdom is presented in terms of its practical benefit.
• Ecclesiastes 10:20 "For a bird of the air shall carry the voice" — A warning that even words spoken in secret will come to light.

People and Places

No individuals or places are mentioned by name. The speaker is the Preacher, the narrator of the whole book, traditionally associated with Solomon. The text features representative figures such as the ruler, the king, princes, servants, and the fool.

Points for Reflection

• The right hand and left hand in verse 2 are understood as an idiom reflecting the ancient view of the right side as the favorable one.
• Verse 19, "money answereth all things," is read by some as a matter-of-fact acknowledgment of money's usefulness and by others as a sarcastic comment on the dissolute princes of the preceding verse.
• The maxims of this chapter resemble those of Proverbs and clearly display the characteristics of wisdom literature.
• The gracious speech of verse 12 is often read alongside Colossians 4:6, and the warning of verse 20 alongside Luke 12:3.

In the Korean Church

Verses 1 and 10 are frequently cited in sermons that warn against small faults or emphasize preparation and self-improvement. Verse 20 is often presented as a parallel to the Korean proverb "Birds hear words spoken by day, and mice hear words spoken by night."