English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 10:2
2A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
- New International Version (NIV)The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left.
- New Living Translation (NLT)A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:2
1Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. 3Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. 4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:2 word by word
לֵ֤ב חָכָם֙ לִֽימִינ֔וֹ וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִ֖יל לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:2
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
- Luke 14:28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
- Ecclesiastes 10:10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.
- Proverbs 17:16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
- Luke 12:18And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2A 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, The command which the wise man has over his own mind, feelings, passions, etc., and the prudence with which he acts. And, 2. The want of prudence and management in the fool, who has no restraint on his passions, and no rule or guard upon his tongue. The right hand and the left are used in Scripture…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The 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.”Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3These two proverbs highlight the foolishness of unwise people. They make poor choices, and their actions reveal their lack of wisdom.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (Ec 2:14). right--The right hand is more expert than the left. The godly wise is more on his guard than the foolish sinner, though at times he slip. Better a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without one.Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries