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Texts -- Ecclesiastes 10:13-20 (NET)

Context
10:13 At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness , 10:14 yet a fool keeps on babbling . No one knows what will happen ; who can tell him what will happen in the future ? 10:15 The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city .
The Problem with Foolish Rulers
10:16 Woe to you, O land , when your king is childish , and your princes feast in the morning ! 10:17 Blessed are you, O land , when your king is the son of nobility , and your princes feast at the proper time – with self-control and not in drunkenness . 10:18 Because of laziness the roof caves in , and because of idle hands the house leaks . 10:19 Feasts are made for laughter , and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything . 10:20 Do not curse a king even in your thoughts , and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom ; for a bird might report what you are thinking , or some winged creature might repeat your words .

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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • I believe that the message of Ecclesiastes is essentially a positive one. This may seem strange since the vanity of various human endeavors is such a major theme of this book. Nevertheless the total statement that Solomon mad...
  • I. The introductory affirmation 1:1-11A. Title and theme 1:1-21. The title 1:12. The theme 1:2B. The futility of all human endeavor 1:3-111. The vanity of work 1:32. The illustrations from life 1:4-11II. The futility of work ...
  • Clues in the text indicate the value and purpose of 6:10-11:6. The phrases "does not know"and "cannot discover"occur frequently (6:12; 7:14, 24, 28; 8:17; 19:1, 12; 10:14; 11:2, 6). Also the recurrence of "it is good"(7:18) a...
  • The emphasis in this section (9:1-11:6) is on what man does not know because God has not revealed many things. Solomon also emphasized, however, that the remaining mystery in this subject (8:16-17) must not diminish human joy...
  • Since we do not know what our earthly future holds (vv. 12-15), even though governmental officials may prove reprehensible (vv. 16-19) it is not wise to criticize them (v. 20).10:12-15 Generally wise people speak graciously, ...
  • In 1:12-6:9, Solomon demonstrated that all work is ultimately futile for two reasons. It does not yield anything really permanent under the sun. Moreover we can never be sure we will enjoy the fruits of our labor before we di...
  • In conclusion Solomon repeated his original thesis (v. 8; cf. 1:2) and his counsel in view of life's realities (vv. 13-14). In between these statements he set forth his source of authority for writing what we have in Ecclesia...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.'--Eccles. 10:15.Ox the surface this seems to be merely a piece of homely, practical sagacity, conjoined with one of the bitte...
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