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Hawker's Poor man's commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:2-6

A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. (3) Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to everyone that he is a fool. (4) If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. (5) There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: (6) Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

Who that reads of the wise man's heart and the fool's, differing so widely from each other, but must be led therefrom to consider the blessedness of being guided by Him, whose distinguishing character is, that length of days is in his right hand, and in his left riches and honour. Proverbs 3:16.

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See also Ecclesiastes 10:2-6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The metaphor perhaps means “A wise man’s sense is in its place, ready to help and protect him; but a fool’s sense is missing when it is wanted, and so is useless.”...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 10 This chapter contains a series of proverbs, expressing the wisdom and prudence of the natural man. Here are a number of observations and all show that there is a practical value in wisdom a...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 9:17 TO ECCLESIASTES 10:15. EXPERIENCE CRYSTALLISED IN PROVERBS. Ecclesiastes 9:17 to Eccle

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    FOOL'S. dullard's. Hebrew. _kesil_. fat, inert. Same word as in Ecclesiastes 10:12. See note on Proverbs 1:7....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _A wise man's heart is at his right hand_ The symbolism of the right or the left hand, the former pointing to effective, the latter to ineffective, action, is so natural that it is scarcely necessary...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    D. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THOSE WHO LACK Wis. 10:1-11 1. The foolish worker is in trouble. Ecclesiastes 10:1-4 TEXT 10:1-4 1 Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. A WISE MAN'S HEART (IS) AT HIS RIGHT HAND - (.) The right hand is more expert than the left. The godly wise is more on his g...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PRACTICAL ADVICE TOUCHING LIFE'S PUZZLES 1-8. Cultivate wisdom and tact, specially in the dangers that attend upon courts, but also in ordinary operations....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    AT HIS RIGHT HAND.. LEFT] A wise man's mind directs him to appropriate conduct. A fool is sure to do the wrong thing. He is _gauche._...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 10 THE WAY THAT A FOOLISH PERSON BEHAVES – ECCLESIASTES 10:1-3 V1 Dead flies can ge...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AT HIS RIGHT HAND. — Perhaps better, _towards his right hand, i.e.,_ leads him to go to the right hand. The thought is the same as Ecclesiastes 2:13, namely, that though the actual results of wisdom a...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    לֵ֤ב חָכָם֙ לִֽ ימִינֹ֔ו וְ לֵ֥ב כְּסִ֖יל

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    FOURTH SECTION The Quest Achieved. The Chief Good Is To Be Found, Not In Wisdom, Nor In Pleasure, Nor In Devotion To Affairs And Its Rewards; But In A Wise Use And A Wise Enjoyment Of The Present Li...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    How, then, does worldly wisdom work? The preacher shows that its first manifestation is discretion based upon selfishness. This section is a series of brief sayings which are of the nature of proverbs...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    A (a) wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart [is] at his left. (a) So that he does all things well and justly, where as the fool does the contrary....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Hand, to do well or ill, Deuteronomy i. 39., and Jonas iv. 11. (Chaldean)_...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    A WISE MAN'S HEART [IS] AT HIS RIGHT HAND,.... This is not designed to express the direct position and situation of the heart of man, wise or foolish, which is the same in both; and which, according t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left._ Ver. 2. A wise man's heart is at his right hand.] He doth his business discreetly and dexterously, he is handy and happy a...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _A wise man's heart is at his right hand_ His understanding or wisdom is always present with him, and ready to direct him in all his actions. He manages all his affairs prudently and piously. He menti...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A wise man's heart is at his right hand, that is, he uses his understanding in the proper, expert way; BUT A FOOL'S HEART AT HIS LEFT, lacking wisdom, he bungles everything that he undertakes....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    IN THE MIDST OF PRESUMPTION AND ARROGANCE...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "A WISE MAN'S HEART DIRECTS HIM TOWARD THE RIGHT, BUT THE FOOLISH MAN'S HEART DIRECTS HIM TOWARD THE LEFT."THE RIGHT" -right and left have for centuries been used as referring to good and bad. In fact...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-3 Those especially who make a profession of religion, should keep from all appearances of evil. A wise man has great advantage over a fool, who is always at a loss when he has anything to do. Sin is...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    A WISE MAN'S HEART, i.e. his understanding or wisdom, IS AT HIS RIGHT HAND; is always present with him, and ready to direct him in all his actions. He manageth all his affairs prudently and piously. H...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 10:2 mans H2450 heart H3820 hand H3225 fools H3684 heart H3820 left H8040 wise -...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    SAYINGS COMPARING THE WISE AND THE UNLEARNED AND THOUGHTLESS (ECCLESIASTES 10:1). Ecclesiastes 10:1 ‘Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to smell and putrefy, so does a little folly outwei...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 8:16-12 I. The Preacher commences this section by carefully defining his position and equipment as he starts on his last course. (1) His first conclusion is that wisdom, which of all temp...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 8:16-10 I. At the end of chap. viii. and the beginning of chap. ix., Koheleth points out that it is impossible for us to construct a satisfactory policy of life. "The work of God," or, as...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Proverbs recommending wisdom as of great use for the right ordering of our lives. CHARACTERS: Solomon. CONCLUSION: Fools are apt, at every turn, to proclaim their folly, for if one is lack...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 10:1. _Dead flies cause the ointment,_ of exquisite perfumes, _to send forth a stinking savour;_ a satirical proverb, applicable to characters in all the public walks of life. A general,...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left._ HEART AND HAND I. The wise man’s heart at his right hand means that his affections are at their proper objects. The heart is...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 10:2 The “right hand” is often associated with strength in the OT. The Preacher is probably referring to the LEFT to indicate weakness....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 10:1. DEAD FLIES.] _Lit_., “Flies of death;” because, as such, they corrupt the ointment. The apothecary.] A dealer in spices. Thus it is not the common kind, but a cost...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 10:1 Section 11. _A little folly mars the effect of wisdom, _and is sure to make itself conspicuous. ECCLESIASTES 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to sen...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Chapter 10: Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking odor: so does a little folly to him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor (Ecclesiastes 10:1). There are cert...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ecclesiastes 10:10; Ecclesiastes 10:14; Luke 12:18;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Heart — His understanding is always present with him and ready to direct him. He mentions the right hand, because that is the common instrument of action. A fool's — His understanding is not effectual...

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