Single lesson
Ecclesiastes 10: Wisdom and Folly
Ecclesiastes 10:1–20
Ecclesiastes 10 uses vivid sayings to compare wisdom and folly in speech, work, leadership and private conduct. Children will trace the chapter’s pictures and notice how fitting, careful behaviour is valued throughout the passage.
Before you teach
This chapter is a sequence of observations. It begins with a small thing spoiling something valuable, then moves through wise and foolish conduct, a ruler’s anger, disorder in leadership, risks in work, speech, feasting, laziness and guarded words about the king and the rich.
Students will be able to identify at least three pictures or contrasts in Ecclesiastes 10 and explain how the chapter presents wisdom as fitting, gracious, skilful and self-controlled.
Welcome: A little folly can spoil much good
5 minShow a clean sheet with one dark mark, or draw one tiny fly near a perfume bottle sketch. Read verse 1. Explain that the chapter opens with a picture of something small spoiling something valuable. Tell the children to listen for more pictures that show what wisdom and folly look like in daily life.
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Read and explain: Wisdom, rulers and careful work
8 minRead verses 1-11 in short parts. Explain that verse 2 contrasts wise and foolish direction. Verse 4 says gentleness can calm offence when a ruler is angry. Verses 5-7 describe an error from a ruler, where folly is honoured and social places look upside down. Verses 8-11 give pictures of danger, effort and skill, including sharpening a blunt axe.
Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 10:2, Ecclesiastes 10:4, Ecclesiastes 10:5, Ecclesiastes 10:6, Ecclesiastes 10:7, Ecclesiastes 10:8, Ecclesiastes 10:9, Ecclesiastes 10:10, Ecclesiastes 10:11
Discuss: Gracious lips and multiplied words
6 minRead verses 12-15. Ask the children to listen for what mouths and words do. A wise person’s words are gracious, while a fool is swallowed by his own lips. The fool’s talk begins in foolishness and grows worse. Verse 14 also reminds us people do not know what will be, even while the fool keeps talking.
Ecclesiastes 10:12, Ecclesiastes 10:13, Ecclesiastes 10:14, Ecclesiastes 10:15
Make and respond: Picture card from the chapter
7 minRead verses 16-20. Explain the contrast between leaders who feast at the wrong time and leaders who eat in due season for strength. Verse 18 links idleness with a leaking house. Verse 19 mentions feasting, gladness and money within this daily-life section, then verse 20 warns to guard speech. Children make a card with one picture from the chapter and one matching sentence.
Ecclesiastes 10:16, Ecclesiastes 10:17, Ecclesiastes 10:18, Ecclesiastes 10:19, Ecclesiastes 10:20
Closing: Gather the chapter’s wisdom pictures
4 minReview the pictures the class found: dead flies, a calm response, high places given to folly, a sharpened axe, gracious lips, a leaking roof and guarded speech. Ask children to say which image best helps them remember the chapter. Finish by reading verses 1, 10 and 12 as a short summary of the passage’s teaching.
Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 10:4, Ecclesiastes 10:6, Ecclesiastes 10:10, Ecclesiastes 10:12, Ecclesiastes 10:18, Ecclesiastes 10:20
Questions to explore
What does the picture of dead flies in perfume teach at the start of the chapter?
Verse 1 shows that something small can spoil something valuable, which introduces the warning that a little folly can outweigh wisdom and honour.
Ecclesiastes 10:1
What wrong situation does the writer observe in verses 5-7?
Look for the ruler’s error, the place given to folly, and the surprising picture of servants on horses while princes walk on the earth.
Ecclesiastes 10:5, Ecclesiastes 10:6, Ecclesiastes 10:7
How do verses 16-20 connect leadership, daily living and speech?
Notice the contrast in when princes eat, the leaking house from idleness, the mention of feasting and money, and the warning not to curse the king or the rich.
Ecclesiastes 10:16, Ecclesiastes 10:17, Ecclesiastes 10:18, Ecclesiastes 10:19, Ecclesiastes 10:20
Make, think or respond
Ecclesiastes 10 Picture Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- plain card or paper
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
- Bible text of Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
Try it together
- Ask each child to choose one picture from the chapter, such as dead flies, a sharpened axe, gracious lips, a leaking roof or a bird carrying words.
- Read the chosen verse together and help the child copy a short phrase from it onto the card.
- Have the child draw the picture and tell one realistic example that matches the verse’s warning or wisdom.
- Invite children to share their cards in pairs and explain why that image stands out in Ecclesiastes 10.
The cards use the chapter’s own images to help children remember its teaching about folly, skill, speech, work and self-control.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer four pre-chosen verses with clear images: Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 10:10, Ecclesiastes 10:12 or Ecclesiastes 10:18, and let them copy only two or three words.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to connect two images on one card, such as a sharpened axe with skilful work in Ecclesiastes 10:10 and gracious lips in Ecclesiastes 10:12.
An optional closing prayer
“God, please help us learn from these sayings. Help us use gracious words, act with care, and turn away from folly. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 Don’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.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.