CHAPTER X _Observations on wisdom and folly_, 1-3. _Concerning right conduct towards rulers_, 4. _Merit depressed, and worthlessness exalted_, 5-7. _Of him who digs a pit and removes a landmark_, 8, 9. _The use of wisdom and experience_, 10. _Of the babbler and the fool_, 11-15. _The infant k... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:2. _A WISE MAN'S HEART_ IS _AT HIS RIGHT HAND_] As the _right_ _hand_ is ordinarily the best exercised, strongest, and most ready, and the _left_ the contrary, they show, 1. The command which the wise man has over his own mind, feelings, passions, c., and the prudence with whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:3. _WHEN - A FOOL WALKETH BY THE WAY_] In every act of life, and in every company he frequents, the irreligious man shows what he is. Vanity, nonsense, and wickedness are his themes: so that in effect _he saith to every one_ that _he_ is _a fool_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:4. _IF THE SPIRIT OF THE RULER RISE UP AGAINST THEE_] If the king get incensed against thee. _LEAVE NOT THY PLACE_] Humble thyself before him, that is _thy_ _place_ and duty; for yielding to him, and not standing stoutly in thy defence, pacifieth _great offenses_: and then, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:5. _AN ERROR_ WHICH _PROCEEDETH FROM THE RULER_] What this error in the ruler is, the two following verses point out: it is simply this - an injudicious distribution of offices, and raising people to places of trust and confidence, who are destitute of _merit_, are neither of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:8. _WHOSO BREAKETH A HEDGE, A SERPENT SHALL BITE HIM._] While spoiling his neighbour's property, he himself may come to greater mischief: while pulling out the sticks, he may be bit by a serpent, who has his nest there. Some have supposed that נחש _nachash_ here means a _thorn_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:9. _WHOSO REMOVETH STONES_] This verse teaches care and caution. Whoever _pulls down_ an old building is likely to be hurt by the stones; and in _cleaving wood_ many accidents occur for want of sufficient caution.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:10. _IF THE IRON BE BLUNT_] If the axe have lost its edge, and the owner do not sharpen it, he must apply the more strength to make it cut: but the _wisdom that is profitable to direct_ will teach him, that he should _whet_ his _axe_, and _spare_ his _strength._ Thus, without w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:11. _THE SERPENT WILL BITE WITHOUT ENCHANTMENT_] בלא לחש _belo lachash_, without _hissing_. As a snake may bite before it hiss, so also will the babbler, talkative person, or calumniator. Without directly speaking evil, he insinuates, by innuendoes, things injurious to the rep... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:12. _THE WORDS OF A WISE MAN'S MOUTH_] Every thing that proceeds from him is decent and orderly, creditable to himself, and acceptable to those who hear him. But the _lips of the fool_, which speak every thing at random, and have no understanding to guide them, are not only not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _A MAN CANNOT TELL WHAT SHALL BE_] A foolish babbling man will talk on every subject, though he can say as little on the _past_, as he can on the _future_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _HE KNOWETH NOT HOW TO GO TO THE CITY._] I suppose this to be a proverb: "He knows nothing; he does not know his way to the next village." He may labour; but for want of _judgment_ he wearies himself to no purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _WO TO THEE, O LAND, WHEN THY KING_ IS _A CHILD_] _Minorities_ are, in general, very prejudicial to a state. Regents either disagree, and foment civil wars; or oppress the people. Various discordant interests are raised up in a state during a minority; and the young king, having been under... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _WHEN THY KING_ IS _THE SON OF NOBLES_] υιος ελευθερων, the son of freemen; persons well acquainted with the principles of civil liberty, and who rule according to them.-_Septuagint_. Such a one as comes to the throne in a legitimate way, from an ancient regal family, whose right to the th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _BY MUCH SLOTHFULNESS_] This is remarkably the case in some countries. Houses are not repaired till they almost fall about the ears of the inhabitants. We have an adage that applies to all such cases: "A stitch in time saves nine.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _A FEAST IS MADE FOR LAUGHTER_] The object of it is to produce merriment, to banish care and concern of every kind. But who are they who make and frequent such places? Epicures and drunkards generally; such as those of whom _Horace_ speaks: Nos numerus sumus, et fruges consumere nati. _E... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:20. _CURSE NOT THE KING_] Do not permit thyself even to think evil of the king; lest thy tongue at some time give vent to thy thoughts, and so thou be chargeable with treason. _FOR A BIRD OF THE AIR SHALL CARRY THE VOICE_] Does he refer here to such fowls as the _carrier pige... [ Continue Reading ]