Read & explore together
Wisdom and Folly
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 strings together wise sayings about folly, speech, work and rule. The passage uses strong pictures to show that a small lack of wisdom can spoil much good and bring trouble into ordinary life.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
Here the speaker observes life "under the sun" and comments on rulers, labour, words and households. The passage remains wisdom teaching, not a story. Its comparisons and proverbs invite readers to notice how wisdom and folly appear in conduct, timing and speech.
Ecclesiastes 10:1–20Main takeaway
This passage teaches that folly brings disorder in speech, work and leadership, while wisdom appears in restraint, skill and conduct that fits the moment.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A little folly can outweigh wisdomThe first image says dead flies can spoil a perfumer’s oil, so a little folly can outweigh wisdom and honour.
Explanation
The first image says dead flies can spoil a perfumer’s oil, so a little folly can outweigh wisdom and honour. The wise and the fool are then contrasted by the direction of the heart. Even while walking, the fool’s understanding fails and makes his foolishness plain to others.
02Wisdom answers calmly and works with careIf a ruler becomes angry, the advice is to stay in place, because gentleness can quiet great offences.
Explanation
If a ruler becomes angry, the advice is to stay in place, because gentleness can quiet great offences. The speaker has also seen rulers promote folly and lower those who should be honoured. Everyday tasks can injure the worker, so the sharpened axe shows that skill and preparation make work more effective.
03Speech may come too late or turn against the speakerThe snake image adds a timing warning: if it bites before it is charmed, the charmer’s tongue brings no profit.
Explanation
The snake image adds a timing warning: if it bites before it is charmed, the charmer’s tongue brings no profit. In the same group of sayings, wise words are gracious, but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. His speech begins in foolishness, ends in madness, and multiplies words about an unknown future.
04Foolish labour and careless rule wear things downThe fool’s labour wearies him because he does not know how to go to the city. The passage then says woe to a land with childish or self-indulgent rulers, but happiness where leaders act at the proper time and for strength.
Explanation
The fool’s labour wearies him because he does not know how to go to the city. The passage then says woe to a land with childish or self-indulgent rulers, but happiness where leaders act at the proper time and for strength. Sloth makes a roof sink, showing neglect and its results.
05Pleasure, money and secret words are treated carefullyThe passage says a feast is made for laughter, wine makes life glad, and money is the answer for all things.
Explanation
The passage says a feast is made for laughter, wine makes life glad, and money is the answer for all things. In this chapter that is part of observation, not a full explanation of every case. It then warns against cursing the king or the rich even in private, because hidden words may be carried abroad.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the image of dead flies in perfumed oil explain the power of "a little folly"?
The comparison shows that something small can spoil something valuable, just as a little folly can outweigh wisdom and honour.
02What actions in this passage show wisdom as conduct, not just ideas?
Look at gentleness before a ruler and the sharpening of a blunt axe, where wisdom appears in response, preparation and skill.
03What does this passage say about words, timing and their consequences?
Read together the warning about the snake before charming, the gracious words of the wise, the many words of the fool and the caution about secret cursing.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ecclesiastes 10:1–20
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.