Christianity

Ecclesiastes 10A Little Folly

Summary

Ecclesiastes 10 is a string of proverbs on wisdom and folly. Dead flies make perfume stink, and a little folly spoils a reputation for wisdom. Fools are placed in high positions while nobles walk on foot. Work carries hazards: whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and a blunt axe needs more strength. The words of the wise are gracious, but a fool is full of talk. He warns of a land whose king is a child, praises timely feasting, and cautions against cursing the king even privately.

Key verse

“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.”

Ecclesiastes 10:1

Themes

Reputation
Folly
Practical Wisdom
Prudent Speech

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.

A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

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.

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

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.

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

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!

By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

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.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
Proverbs 26: Gallery of Fools
Proverbs 26 portrays fools and sluggards and includes the saying that whoever digs a pit will fall into it (26:27), closely matching Ecclesiastes 10:8.
Confucianism
Analects 4: The Superior Man
Confucius contrasts the superior man, who cares for righteousness and is cautious in speech, with the small man who seeks gain. Ecclesiastes 10:12 to 14 also sets gracious, measured words against a fool's endless talk.

Questions about Ecclesiastes 10

What does dead flies cause the ointment to stink mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:1 compares a small amount of folly to dead flies spoiling perfume: a little foolishness can ruin a long-earned reputation for wisdom.

What does a bird of the air shall carry the voice mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:20 warns against cursing the king even in private, because words have a way of getting out. The English expression a little bird told me is sometimes traced to this verse.