When a Little Folly Corrupts What Wisdom Built.

Ecclesiastes 10 shows how a little folly can corrupt what once appeared wise, honorable, or strong. The chapter warns that rulers, servants, laborers, and ordinary men all suffer when wisdom is neglected and foolishness is given room to govern conduct, speech, and judgment. It exposes the disorder that follows when men lack discernment: leadership becomes inverted, labor becomes dangerous, words become destructive, and laziness brings decay. At the same time, the chapter quietly teaches that wisdom still has preserving value, guiding a man to act carefully, speak soberly, and recognize consequences before they fully unfold. Its message is a warning against careless living and a call to practical wisdom in a fallen world.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 – 10:20

  1 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 man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
  3 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.
  4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
  5 There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
  6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
  7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
  8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
  9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
  10 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 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
  12 The words of a wise man’s mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
  13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.
  14 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 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
  16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
  17 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 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
  19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].
  20 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.