Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
A Little Folly
1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
Berean Standard Bible
The Teacher compares a little folly to dead flies in a perfumer's oil. A small amount of corruption can ruin something valuable. He then contrasts the heart of a wise person with the heart of a fool and observes that a fool reveals his lack of sense even while walking down the road.
The sayings move through ordinary situations. If a ruler becomes angry, calmness can lay great offenses to rest. Folly can be promoted to high places while the rich or honorable sit in low positions. Slaves may ride horses while princes walk, showing how unstable public order can become.
The Teacher also warns about work. Digging a pit, breaking a wall, quarrying stones, and splitting logs all carry danger. A dull axe demands more strength, while skill produces success. Carefulness is not wasted effort; it can make labor safer and more effective.
Words reveal character. The wise person's speech is gracious, while the fool's talk begins in folly and ends in destructive madness. A fool multiplies words without knowing what will come. The person who does not know the way to the city becomes weary from his own work.
The chapter addresses leadership, laziness, feasting, money, and secret speech. A land is blessed when leaders feast at the proper time for strength rather than drunkenness. Laziness lets a roof cave in. Money can answer many practical needs, but it cannot make every moral question disappear. Even private curses may be carried by a bird of the air.
Proverbs also links wise speech with life and foolish speech with harm. James warns teachers and speakers that the tongue can bless God and curse people made in His likeness. Ecclesiastes calls families to respect small choices because small folly can outweigh wisdom and honor.
How We Know
Proverbs 10:1-12 contrasts wise and foolish speech, diligence, and conduct. James 3:1-12 warns about the power of the tongue and the inconsistency of blessing God while cursing people made in His likeness. Ecclesiastes applies wisdom to work, leadership, speech, and daily risks.
Questions
1 What can a little folly do?
AnswerA little folly can outweigh wisdom and honor, like dead flies ruining perfumer's oil.
2 What can calmness do when a ruler is angry?
AnswerCalmness can lay great offenses to rest.
3 What does skill do with a dull axe?
AnswerSkill produces success and reduces the strength needed for the work.
4 What are the words of a wise person like?
AnswerThe words of a wise person are gracious.
What This Means for Us
Treat small choices as morally significant. Speak graciously, work skillfully, respond calmly, and do not assume a minor folly cannot damage something valuable.
Prayer
God, make our words gracious and our work careful. Help us respond calmly, resist laziness, and notice the small choices that can either protect or damage the people around us. Amen.