Ecclesiastes Week 10: The Value and Limits of Wisdom
August 28, 2022
Dorsey Translation of Ecclesiastes:
Misfortunes happen randomly to everyone; yet it is advantageous to live wisely
11 I have observed another thing in this world: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong; nor does food come to the wise, or wealth to the intelligent, or favor to the knowledgeable; but events and misfortunes happen randomly to everyone. 12 A person does not know when tragedy will strike. As fish are caught in a deadly net, or birds are captured in a snare, so people are taken by surprise when disasters befall them. 13 I saw an example of wisdom that was very sad: 14 There was once a small town with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it, and built huge siegeworks against it. 15 There lived in that town a man who was poor but wise, and he saved the town by his wisdom. But in the end no one appreciated what he had done. 16 But I said to myself, despite this, wisdom is still more powerful than military strength–even if that poor man’s wisdom was not honored and his words were not celebrated. 17 The quiet words of a wise person are more valuable than the shouts of a ruler who is a fool. 18 Wisdom is more powerful than weapons of war.
Some thoughts on wisdom and folly
One wrong can destroy much good. 10:1 Just as one dead fly can spoil a whole container of expensive perfume, so a little folly can spoil much wisdom. 2 The mind of the wise person prefers what is right, and the mind of the foolish prefers what is wrong. 3 A fool reveals that he lacks wisdom wherever he goes; he declares to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If a ruler’s temper is aroused against you, do not leave your post; for calmness can allay great offenses. 5 I have observed something foolish that rulers in this world often do. 6 They place fools in high positions, and put men of substance in low positions. 7 I have seen slaves riding along on horseback, while princes walk on foot like slaves. 8 But whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be hurt by them. 10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, the one who wields it must use more strength; but wisdom can help a person succeed. 11 If a snake bites its trainer because it has not been properly trained, the trainer will have done all his work in vain. 12 The words of a wise man brings him approval, but a fool destroys himself by what he says. 13 What a fool says, from beginning to end, is foolish and full of nonsense, 14 yet he talks on and on. 15 A fool tires of his work, but he does not know the way back to town. 16 How unfortunate are you, O land whose king is immature and whose princes feast in the morning. 17 How fortunate are you, O land whose king is noble and whose princes feast at appropriate times–and in dignity rather than shamefully. 18 Laziness causes the rafters to sag; idle hands cause the house to fall down. 19 Bread brings laughter and wine brings merriment, but money is needed to provide these things. 20 Do not revile the king even to an intimate friend, or curse an influential person even in the privacy of your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
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