CHAPTER 10 CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE WISE MAN AND THE UNLEARNED AND THOUGHTLESS (THE FOOL) AND OTHER USEFUL SAYINGS. The point about these sayings is that they illustrate a point to those sensible enough to look for it. They are, of course, not always true. They illustrate wisdom and/or folly. They are... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYINGS COMPARING THE WISE AND THE UNLEARNED AND THOUGHTLESS (ECCLESIASTES 10:1). Ecclesiastes 10:1 ‘Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to smell and putrefy, so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.' The effect of dead flies in ointment is to ruin the ointment which had previo... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHAVIOUR CONNECTED WITH SUPERIORS (ECCLESIASTES 10:4). Ecclesiastes 10:4 ‘If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, do not leave your place, for deference will compensate for great offences.' The picture is that of a court with courtiers standing in their allotted place. To leave his place... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTING THOUGHTFULLY AND WITH GREAT CARE WITH REGARD TO THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE (ECCLESIASTES 10:8). Ecclesiastes 10:8 ‘He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a fence a poisonous snake will bite him.' Those who seek to do harm to others may find that their pl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF WISE WORDS (ECCLESIASTES 10:12). . 10.l2-13 ‘The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool swallow him up. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.' The wise man always speaks so as to soothe an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING TO THE RIGHT PERSON (ECCLESIASTES 10:15). Ecclesiastes 10:15 ‘The effort of fools wearies every one of them, for he does not know how to go to the city.' ‘Them' is those who listen to him. If we seek advice from a fool, we should not be surprised if we do not get to ou... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VALUE OF SILVER (ECCLESIASTES 10:19). Ecclesiastes 10:19 ‘A feast is made for laughter, and wine gladdens the life, and silver answers all things.' The thought here would seem to be that feasting and wine temporarily produce merriment but that a man's wealth is the mainstay of his whole life.... [ Continue Reading ]
A WARNING AGAINST UNWISE CURSING LEST THE FACT REACH THE ONE WHO IS CURSED (ECCLESIASTES 10:20). Ecclesiastes 10:20 ‘Do not curse the king, no, not in your thought. And do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which has wings will carry the... [ Continue Reading ]