Words And Works of Wise Men And Fools
September 26, 2019
Commentary
This passage starts out by saying that men of folly are digging their own graves (v. 8). Not paying any attention to duty is also compared to the breaking down of walls. It is easy to get hurt by chiseling stone or falling trees (vv. 9-10). Solomon shows that even though wisdom is valuable in dangerous and difficult tasks, its value can be null and void by improper timing (v. 11). He contrasts the words of a wise man with that of a fool (vv. 12-15). He says a wise man’s words are gracious but a fools words are self destructive. The fool reveals only his mischievous madness when he opens his mouth.
Next, Solomon contrasts the sorry state of a nation whose leaders are incompetent and undisciplined (v. 16) with the fortunate state of a nation whose leaders are competent and disciplined (v. 17). Incompetent leaders are lazy, causing the ruin of the state and the loss of protection (vv. 18-19). However, he also warns against criticizing government officials (v. 20) even if their leadership deserves such criticism.
Application
No one can make a fool out of me unless I give him reason to do so. Each of us make that choice between foolishness and wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 10:8– 20 (NET)
8 One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10 If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
11 If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.
12 The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.
13 At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,
14 yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?
15 The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time —with self-control and not in drunkenness.
18 Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.