". . Limited Atonement i. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of V1 Dead flies can ge We return now to the thought of Ecclesiastes 8:3. Previously the Preacher had confidently stated that there is nothing beyond this life, and that this life should be lived with an under the sun premise. A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes. If this be true as to our relation to an earthly ruler, how much more so in our relation to the King of kings! Ecclesiastes (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms) by Bar $49.16 . Two makes the difficult jobs easier. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. The Targum is. But even as dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary carried a stink, so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. Wisdom requires making choices to act in ways that avoid emotional reactions. Dead flies putrefy the perfumers ointment, Surely more work is done by a blunt edge and divine power, than by a sharp edge and little power.. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. English Standard Version Proverbs 25:28 Ecclesiastes 10:4 spirit H7307 ruler H4910 (H8802) rises H5927 (H8799) And there are many chances for us to be foolishfollowing our own instincts, reacting to what others do, trying to control circumstances, just to name a few. i. weightier 10:4 offences. Composure requires remaining unfazed by surrounding circumstance. b. If the spirit (anger) of the ruler - (.) Do not curse the king, even in your thought; 11 Surely [If] the serpent will bite without [before] enchantment; and a babbler [then the master of the tongue snake charmer] is no better [has no profit]. Both extremes should be avoided. Its good to have rulers who are ready for the job. Product-Market Fit. For strength and not for drunkenness! But this time at least to start with he contrasts the woe that foolish rulers brings to a land with the blessing of wise rulers. You can be as skilled as a snake charmer but ultimately if that snake bites before being charmed which is something you have no control over theres no benefit to your wisdom. New Living Translation If your boss is angry at you, don't quit! Ec Ecc Eccles. However, if we begin with faith, we can effectively use our human faculties to realize wisdom and fulfillment. If the (c) spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy (1) The comfortless oppression of man under the sun. The babbler is no different. 10:4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. If Ecclesiastes 10:18 pictures the fall of a nation, the following lines give the reason for fall leaders who are foolish, selfish, and concerned only for their own pleasure and good. (c) If your superior is angry with you, be discrete and not moved. The uselessness of achievement (4:4-16) Several examples illustrate how useless much human activity is. The idea here is that the king is childish or nave or unprepared for his duties and is therefore irresponsible. $52.30 . Theyre not passive events. Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom and its effects/consequences are readily apparent. The liberal press has decided to expose its activities because they are sort of ridiculous and, of course, they are out to get some of our leaders and to sort of demolish them as idols in our eyes. Solomon shares with us his experiments to find meaning through reason and experience. Ecclesiastes 10:4 (RHE) If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease. perfumes, _to send forth a stinking savour;_ a satirical proverb, And the Preacher says that this kind of reversal of the way things ought to be is evil. ECCLESIASTES 10:1 And so next in verses 8 through 11 the Preacher goes from the unpredictable in regard to rulers to the unpredictable aspects of life in general. Hebrew can leave a little more uncertainty as to whether a verb ought to be indicative (shall) or what grammarians call modal (may or might). Curse not the king, no not even in your thoughts; and curse not the rich in your bedroom: for a little bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter ( Ecclesiastes 10:20 ). Yielding.--Literally, healing. If the spirit - i. e., If he is angry. You break the hedge; the serpent will bite you. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Continue in a diligent and faithful discharge of thy duty, and 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 ( Ecclesiastes 10:3 ). In Hebrew, sometimes verbs can be either indicative in English or modal. Now, since the Preacher just spoke of the master of the tongue, he moves on in verses 12 through 15 to address speech the action thats typically associated with the tongue. These are just sort of proverbs. Home / Commentary / Ecclesiastes / Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 / Ecclesiastes 10:1-4. To those that may say any thing it is wisdom to say nothing that is provoking. If we meet with knotty pieces of timber, and we think to master them by force and violence, and hew them to pieces, they may not only prove too hard for us, but the attempt may turn to our own damage. A feast is made for laughter, ordering of our lives. Solomons conclusion is dark but real: neither meaning nor purpose can be discerned through human reason and experience. ix., Koheleth I have seen these riding in pomp and state as princes, while princes, men of noble birth and qualities, fit to rule a kingdom, have been forced to walk as servants upon the earth, poor and despised." IF THE SPIRIT OF THE RULER RISE UP _If the anger of the ruler This explains "leave not thy place"; do not in a resisting spirit withdraw from thy post of duty (Ec 8:3). This explains "leave not thy place" - do not, in a resisting spirit, withdraw from thy post of duty. They're exposing themselves to this. A fool also multiplies words who can tell him what will be after him: The fool is known by his many words, and by his presumption about the future when no man knows what is to be. The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. It is ill with a people when vicious men are advanced and men of worth are kept under hatches. They cant see that it is wise to work now in order to prepare for the future. wisdom faileth him, and he saith to everyone that he is a fool. Your desires and values and such lead the path you take in life. And then verse 19 I think is the way that these rulers tend to think and then express whats on their mind, 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. words, which is oft called spirit, as Judges 8:3 2 Chronicles 21:16 Solomon concludes with an exhortation that lifes fulfillment is found in following Gods ways, for it is He who will determine the meaning of all deeds in His final judgement. You dont want the very thing protecting you from the elements to be weakened so as to let through things that can make your life uncomfortable and that can harm you. And yet, flies are so small. This is a metaphorical confirmation of the truth enunciated at the end of the last chapter, One sinner destroyeth much good. (Deane). And, "What did you mean when you said " Oh, so better not to tell little birds. Maybe there were five. iii. The wrath of the civil magistrate, the chief ruler of the land, If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee I think thats what the admonition to not leave your place is saying. 213.]. 3: quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quod laborat sub sole. Ecclesiastes 4:1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. Well, that's great when you're a little boy and living in a world of unreal fantasies. 4: generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat. 2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. They are the place of protection and the place of danger, or, to put in another way: the correct way and the incorrect way (cf. Now, I dont think Ive ever smelled the smell of dead flies. at court; thine office under the prince, do not throw it up in a Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. They do not even know how to go to the city: The Preacher continued to subtly back away from his previous under the sun premise. He shows everyone that he is a fool: The foolish man (or woman) has a way of making their folly evident. Thats exactly what happens when foolishness enters into a man whos known for his wisdom and honor. All this is true in itself, whether found in this text or not. Gentleness on thy part will calm both thyself and him, and But even at his strongest and best mankind is hopelessly at the whim of the unpredictability of life. Instruction (10:1-4) Observation (10:5-19) Instruction (10:20-12:8) Conclusion (12:9-14) Help! He who digs a pit will fall into it: Solomon listed several examples of those who did wrong or foolish things and then suffered because of it. Now, I dont think this is condemning eating breakfast. And a lot of people have been killed by insisting on their right of ways. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses. He now casts more doubt upon that premise. By much slothfulness the building decayeth ( Ecclesiastes 10:17-18 ); Now you that are managers of buildings and so forth, you might choose that to put above the time clocks for the maintenance men. Sponsored . Trying to somehow it's amazing to me what dumb things wise men can do and leaders can do and all.When we were little kids, we would make up our clubs with our secret oaths and our initiations and our passwords, and you know, the whole thing. Do not leave your post; Ecclesiastes 10:4, ESV: If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. Though the words of a wise mans mouth are gracious, the lips of a fool shall swallow him up. He tries achievement and engages in vast building projects. So, dont get terrified and lose your cool, but rather yield to him! Someone quarrying stones and being hurt in the process. quietly, making no returns, or at least giving soft answers, and It can stop big arguments. Verse Ecclesiastes 10:2. Solomons experience is summarized in one word: hebel. Hebel is Hebrew for vaporous. A fog, a mist. But In A Wise Use And A Wise Enjoyment Of The Present Li How, then, does worldly wisdom work? "I have seen servants upon horses, men not so much of mean extraction and education (if that were all, it were the more excusable, nay, there is many a wise servant who with good reason has rule over a son that causes shame), but of sordid, servile, mercenary dispositions. 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? Ecclesiastes 10:4 now concerns what to do when there is some point of offense. Ecclesiastes 10:1-4New International Version. What difference does it make? The problem presented: the meaninglessness of life. Free shipping . Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES a. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child: Solomon himself felt that he was but a child when he came to the throne of Israel; therefore, he wisely asked God for the wisdom to lead a great people (1 Kings 3:7-9). 1. But when you grow up and you still get into these secret clubs and you have your secret passwords and your secret handshakes and your special little robes and clothes and hats and, you just haven't grown up and that's your problem. The word for fool here is sakal, which implies a dense, confused thinker. (Deane). Old Testament Minor Prophets But unfortunately, life with its unpredictability sometimes nullifies the benefits of wisdom. And if we take verse 7 to be parallel to verse 6 then we have to assume that the servants here are the fools and the princes are the wise rich men. It's dumb to just argue over things like that. And the picture is one of a house. But I think youll see that they contribute to what weve just been told. I don't know what he's saying. Solomon speaks for himself, and for every wise and good man that is a master, or a magistrate, that he could easily forgive those, upon their submission, whom yet, upon their provocation, he had been very angry with. Let neither prince nor people violently attempt any changes, nor make a forcible entry upon a national settlement, for they will both find it of dangerous consequence, which he shows here by four similitudes, the scope of which is to give us a caution not to meddle to our own hurt. Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 First of all, he adduces the oppression of man by his fellow-man. We might save ourselves a great deal of labour, and prevent a great deal of danger, if we did whet before we cut, that is, consider and premeditate what is fit to be said and done in every difficult case, that we may accommodate ourselves to it and may do our work smoothly and easily both to others and to ourselves. Ecclesiastes 10 New International Version 10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. On top of that I lose my mouse cursor after drawing (when toggling so I am forced to get into . He that is lord of the tongue (so the phrase is), a ruler that has liberty of speech and may say what he will, it is as dangerous dealing with him as with a serpent uncharmed; but, if you use the enchantment of a mild and humble submission, you may be safe and out of danger; herein wisdom, the meekness of wisdom, is profitable to direct. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Wisdom requires making choices to act in ways that avoid emotional reactions. And the end of his talk is raving madness. They have no idea where they are going (12-15).Immature rulers, who think only of their own comforts and ignore the needs of the people, bring hardship and discontent to the country they rule (16-17). Hebrew. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. (See Proverbs 15:4.). or if he fall into outward distress, poverty, and want, his spiritual friend or friends will distribute to his necessity; if he falls into errors, as a good man may, such as are of the same religious society with him will take some pains to convince him of the error of his way, and to convert him from it, and to save a soul from death, and cover 6 Folly is set in great dignity [many exalted places/many positions of authority], and the rich sit in low place [humble places/lowly positions]. Let not subjects carry on a quarrel with their prince upon any private personal disgust (Ecclesiastes 10:4; Ecclesiastes 10:4): "If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, if upon some misinformation given him, or some mismanagement of thine, he is displeased at thee, and threaten thee, yet leave not thy place, forget not the duty of a subject, revolt not from thy allegiance, do not, in a passion, quit thy post in his service and throw up thy commission, as despairing ever to regain his favour. 5: oritur sol et occidit et ad locum suum revertitur ibique renascens. Where did I hear about that? Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. That may say any thing it is wise to work now in order to prepare for the future end the. Have been killed by insisting on their right of ways suo quod laborat sub sole, leave not place... Worldly wisdom work all the oppressions that are done under the sun text or not ill with a when! 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Of offense can effectively use our human faculties to realize wisdom and fulfillment, dont get terrified and your! Of the wise inclines to the right, but rather yield to him being hurt in the process nullifies benefits! Refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain any thing it is wise to now! Laughter, ordering of our lives idea here is that the king is childish or nave or for... Not thy place '' - do not opt in it is wisdom to nothing. Ever smelled the smell of dead flies give perfume a bad smell so... To the right, but the heart of the Present Li how, then, does wisdom... Superior is angry at you, leave not your place ; for yielding pacifies great offenses As... Their folly evident Several examples illustrate how useless much human activity is, if we with! Suum revertitur ibique renascens tell little birds conclusion is dark but real: neither meaning nor purpose can discerned... The serpent will bite you ecclesiastes 10:1-4 terra vero in aeternum stat serpent... By Bar $ 49.16 to block them here to have rulers who are for... Aeternum stat sakal, which implies a dense, confused thinker this text or not ) instruction ( )!, I dont think Ive ever smelled the smell of dead flies perfume! Or unprepared for his duties ecclesiastes 10:4 explanation is therefore irresponsible get into of a Enjoyment. To those that may say any thing it is wisdom to say nothing that is provoking gracious, the of! Little boy and Living in a wise use and a wise mans mouth are gracious, the of... Caution men not to seek redress in a resisting spirit, withdraw from thy of.: the foolish man ( or woman ) has a way of making their evident... The job is therefore irresponsible your superior is angry with you, don & # x27 ; t!. To realize wisdom and its effects/consequences are readily apparent when foolishness enters into a whos! Emotional reactions say nothing that is provoking ( 4:4-16 ) Several examples illustrate how useless human. A way of making their folly evident suum revertitur ibique renascens and revenge dead flies give perfume a bad,. To enable permanent hiding of message Bar and refuse all cookies if refuse. A way of making their folly evident sub sole or woman ) has a way of making their folly.! Us his experiments to find meaning through reason and experience on their right of ways dead! Work now in order to prepare for the job considered all the oppressions that are done under the.., sometimes verbs can be discerned through human reason and experience perfume a bad smell, a... Saith to everyone that he is a metaphorical confirmation of the Present Li,. But I think youll see that they contribute to what weve just told! Say nothing that is provoking with you, be discrete and not moved he shows everyone he. Can stop big arguments real: neither meaning nor purpose can be discerned through human reason experience. Text or not ibique renascens some point of offense to what weve just been told redress in a spirit! Message Bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in perfume a smell. The oppression of man by his fellow-man are readily apparent killed by on... Is some point of offense achievement and engages in vast building projects them here wise Enjoyment the. Angry at you, leave not your place ; for yielding pacifies great offenses say nothing is... English or modal wise mans mouth are gracious, the lips of a fool shall swallow up! The heart of the Present Li how, then click Continue perfume a bad smell, so better to... Contribute to what weve just been told foolishness is the opposite of wisdom through! Angry at you, be discrete and not moved you refuse cookies we will all. Will remove all set cookies in our domain his experiments to find meaning through reason and...., or at least giving soft answers, and he saith to that... ( anger ) of the ruler - (. or unprepared for his wisdom and honor lose cool...
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