Ecclesiastes 10
v.1
As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
v.4
If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest.
Do not give in to self-pity upon receiving harsh feedback.
v.10
If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.
v.12
Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
Verses 12-14 speak further about the wise man’s speech (which is “gracious” in the sense of winning him favor; cf. Prov. 28:23) in contrast to the self-destructive words of the fool, which begin in folly and end in wicked and verbose madness (cf. “folly” and “madness” in 10:13; also 2:12; see also the injunctions against verbosity in 5:2-3, 7; 6:11).
v.19
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
Food and wine occupy the minds of lazy rulers, and they behave as though money can buy everything.
Verse 19 speaks further of the great illustration of, and perhaps the partial cause of, the idleness, which is the inappropriate banqueting mentioned already in verses 16-17. The NIV does not translate it in the best way, however. A more literal translation is: “For laughter they prepare food, and wine that brings joy to the living; and money meets the demands of [lit., ‘answers’] both.” Qohelet often uses Hebrew kol to express “both” of two options rather than a global “all, everything” (cf. 2:14; 7:15, 18). The implication is that money that may have been well used for “house repairs” has been squandered on partying.
v.20
Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.