A Little Foolishness Goes a Long Way
Study note
The Teacher compares foolishness to dead flies in a jar of perfume. Just as a few dead flies ruin the whole batch, a little bit of foolishness can outweigh a lot of wisdom and honor. A wise person's heart leads them in the right direction, but a fool's heart leads them the wrong way. A fool's lack of sense shows in everything they do.
1 Dead flies make a whole bottle of perfume stink. Just a little folly can ruin many wisdom and a good name. 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 person's instincts pull them toward what is right, while a fool's instincts pull them toward what is wrong. A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 You can spot a fool just by watching them walk down the street. They lack so much sense that they broadcast their foolishness to everyone around them. 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.
Wisdom in Dealing with Leaders
Study note
The Teacher advises people to stay calm if a ruler gets angry with them, because staying calm can prevent bigger problems. He also notices that rulers sometimes make mistakes by putting foolish people in high positions while leaving qualified people in low ones. This turns the proper order upside down.
4 If the person in charge gets angry at you, do not panic and quit. Keeping your cool can smooth over even serious mistakes. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 I have noticed another problem in this world, the blunder that comes from those in power. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 People with no skills get placed in high positions. Meanwhile, those with real ability are pushed to the bottom. Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 I have watched servants ride around on horses while leaders had to walk on foot beside them. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Practical Wisdom for Daily Life
Study note
The Teacher gives practical warnings: if you dig a pit, you might fall into it. If you break through a wall, a snake might bite you. Every kind of work carries risks. Working smarter is better than working harder. Wisdom helps people prepare and use their skills at the right time.
8 If you dig a pit, you might be the one who falls in. If you tear down a wall, a snake hiding inside might bite you. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Moving heavy stones around puts you at risk of being crushed. Chopping wood puts you in danger of getting hurt. Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 If your ax blade has gone dull and you refuse to sharpen it, you will have to put in twice the effort. But applying wisdom to the situation is what leads to success. 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 If a snake bites before anyone has a chance to charm it, then the snake charmer's skill is completely worthless. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Words of the Wise and the Foolish
Study note
A wise person's words bring favor, but a fool's words bring ruin. A fool starts with foolishness and ends with dangerous nonsense. Fools talk too much about things they do not know. Their foolishness wears everyone out because they cannot figure out even simple things.
12 When a wise person speaks, people appreciate them. But a fool's own words are what destroy them. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 A fool starts out talking nonsense and ends up saying wild, reckless things. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Fools keep talking and talking. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so who can possibly tell someone what is going to happen later? 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 Fools work so hard but accomplish so little. They cannot even figure out something as basic as how to get to town. The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Good Leaders and Lazy Ones
Study note
The Teacher warns that a nation suffers when its leaders are childish and spend their time feasting. But a nation is blessed when its leaders are mature and eat at the proper time for strength, not for getting drunk. Laziness causes buildings to fall apart. He also warns people to be careful even about what they think in private, because secrets have a way of getting out.
16 What trouble for a country whose king acts like a spoiled child! What trouble when its leaders start partying first thing in the morning! Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 A country is blessed when its king is a wise leader. It is blessed when its officials eat at the right time to get energy for their work, not to get drunk! 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 When people refuse to do maintenance, the ceiling caves in. When they sit around idle, the house starts leaking. By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 Meals are prepared for the enjoyment of people, and wine adds happiness to the occasion. But it takes money to pay for all of it. A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20 Do not curse the king even in the privacy of your own thoughts. Do not bad-mouth wealthy people even in your bedroom. Because somehow, word gets out. It is as if a bird carried your words and reported everything you said. 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.