Ecclesiastes 10:2
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
- KJV
- A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
- WEB
- A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
- ASV
- A wise man`s heart is at his right hand; but a fool`s heart at his left.
- DARBY
- The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
- BLB
- The heart of a wise one [is] to his right, and the heart of a fool to his left.
- ÅB
- Den vises hu er vendt til høyre, men dårens hu til venstre[^1].
- OTB
- Den vises hjerte heller mot høyre, men dårens hjerte heller mot venstre.
- B1930
- Den vises hu er vendt til høire, men dårens hu til venstre. / < høire og venstre er her å forstå om det rette og det vrange.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 12:18–20
Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 10:14
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
Read in contextLuke 14:28–32
Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?
Read in contextEcclesiastes 10:10
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
Read in contextProverbs 17:16
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
Read in contextProverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 9:10
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
Read in context