Ecclesiastes 10:2

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart 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.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:2

1Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. The heart of the wise is to his right, and the heart of the fool is to his left. 3Even as the fool walks along the way, his heart lacks sense and tells everyone what a fool he is. 4If a ruler’s spirit rises up against you, do not leave your post, for composure allays great offences.

Ecclesiastes 10:2 word by word

לֵ֤ב חָכָם֙ לִֽימִינ֔וֹ וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִ֖יל לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wise man’sחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• at his right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• but a fool’sכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• at his leftשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:2

• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your strength, for there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.
• Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to consider his way, but the folly of fools is deception.
• Luke 14:28“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and figure out the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it?
• Ecclesiastes 10:10If the iron axe is blunt and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must exert more force. So wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
• Proverbs 17:16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
• Luke 12:18And he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do! I’ll tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I’ll 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

• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Hand
• Synagogue, the Great

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