1.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
This verse is by its meaning so closely connected with Ecclesiastes 9:18 that the selection of it for the beginning of a new chapter seems unfortunate.
Apothecary - Rather: a dealer in spices and perfumes (compare Exodus 30:25). The swarms of flies in the East very soon corrupt and destroy any moist unguent or mixture left uncovered, and pollute a dish of food in a few minutes.
So doth ... - literally, more weighty than wisdom, than honor, is a little folly.
2.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
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.”
3.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
“Way” may be understood either literally (compare Ecclesiastes 10:15), or figuratively, of the course of action which he follows.
He saith ... - He exposes his folly to every one he meets.
4.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
If the spirit ... - i. e., If he is angry.
Leave not thy place - i. e., Do not lose thy self-control and quit his presence. Gentleness on thy part will calm both thyself and him, and prevent great wrongs being committed by either.
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.
7.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Rather: “If a serpent without enchantment (i. e., not being enchanted) bites, then there is no advantage to the charmer”: i. e., if the charmer is unwisely slack in exercising his craft, he will be bitten like other people. See Psalms 58:4 note.
12.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14.
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Full of words - Confident talking of the future is indicated rather than mere loquacity. Compare James 4:13.
15.
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
The sense is: “The fool wearies himself with ineffectual attempts, he has not sufficient knowledge for the transaction of ordinary business.”
16.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17.
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20.
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.