Ecclesiastes Chapter 10

Observations on wisdom, foolishness, riot and money

10:1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to smell bad: a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor.
10:2 A wise man’s mind [inclines] to his right hand; but a fool’s mind to his left.* The following is a series of one sentence proverbs. – From the Artscroll English Tanach
10:3 And also, on the roadבַּדֶּרֶךְ‎
Pronunciation: badereḵ on the way, on the road, on the path, on the route, on the distance, on the journey, on the manner For more info click here  as the fool walks, he lacks sense, showing everyone that he’s a fool.
10:4 If the mindרוּחַ
Transliteration: rûaḥ – Meaning: the wind, the breath, the mind, the spirit For more info click here of a ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; because calmness soothes great offenses.
10:5 There is an evilרָעָה‎
Transliteration: rāʿâ -Hebrew Noun: Common Feminine Singular Absolute – In the KJV is translated in the following manner: evil (442x), wickedness (59x), wicked (25x), mischief (21x), hurt (20x), bad (13x), trouble (10x), sore (9x), affliction (6x), ill (5x), adversity (4x), ill favored (3x), harm (3x), naught (3x), noisome (2x), grievous (2x), sad (2x), miscellaneous (34x) For more info click here [that] I have seen under the sun, as if it were an error proceeding from the ruler:
10:6 Foolishness is placed on many high places, while the rich sit in low places.
10:7 I have seen slaves on horses, and nobles walking on foot  like slaves.
10:8 He who digs a pit will fall into it; and whoever breaks down a wall, will be bitten by a snake.* 8 & 9 -A fool will place himself in danger, while a wise man will guard himself. Also nothing in the is world is acquired without toil and some inherent danger (Ibn Ezra). – From the Artscroll English Tanach
10:9 Whoever moves around stones will be hurt by them; and he that splits logs will be endangered by them.
10:10 If the axe is blunt, and he hasn’t honed the edge, he must use more strength: but the expert has the advantage of his skill.
10:11 If the snake bites because it wasn’t charmed; there is no advantage to the charmer.
10:12 The words of a wise man’s mouth win favor; but the lips of a fool will consume him.
10:13 His talk begins as foolishness and ends as evilרָעָה‎
Transliteration: rāʿâ -Hebrew Noun: Common Feminine Singular Absolute – In the KJV is translated in the following manner: evil (442x), wickedness (59x), wicked (25x), mischief (21x), hurt (20x), bad (13x), trouble (10x), sore (9x), affliction (6x), ill (5x), adversity (4x), ill favored (3x), harm (3x), naught (3x), noisome (2x), grievous (2x), sad (2x), miscellaneous (34x) For more info click here madness.
10:14 Also a fool talks on and on: but a manהָאִישׁ‎
Transliteration: hā’îš, a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):—also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. For more info click here doesn’t know what will be; and who can tell what the future holds?
10:15 The work of the foolish exhaust them, like someone who doesn’t know how to go to the city.* A wise traveler asks directions, but a fool persists onward to the point of of exhaustion. – From the Artscroll English Tanach
10:16 Woe to you, O land, whose king [acts like] a child, and whose princes eat in the morning!* Unconcerned with the welfare of the state, irresponsible leader indulge in revelry when they should attend to the needs of the people (Ibn Latif) . – From the Artscroll English Tanach
10:17 Happy [are] you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat at the proper time, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
10:18 Through laziness the building sags; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and gladdens wine life: but money answers everything.* Money is necessary and makes everything possible. The previous verse condemns slothfulness; this one encourages industry. Lazy people do not earn a living (Rashi) – From the Artscroll English Tanach

Reverent thoughts for kings

10:20 Even in your thoughts don’t curse the king; in your bedroom don’t curse the rich : because a bird of the air might carry the news, and some winged creature may betray the matter.