10.1-4 folly. Folly and foolishness are the opposite of wisdom. A fly in your beverage results in the entire beverage being thrown away. So foolishness in the life of a wise man causes people to dismiss him, and discard him as a valuable man. People realize stupid actions reflect stupid thinking. It is obvious where his heart (desires) are. People say “there goes the fool”. All because of a fly. The text suggests anger is possibly the fly Solomon was mentally seeing. Solomon instructs a calm spirit will bring the best results to conflict. Intemperate people are not considered wise. We see a fly when we view them.

10.5-10 ibid. Folly blames failure and mistakes on the leader without investigating the cause. Folly is always immature in it’s conclusions. Folly places unproven people in elevated positions, while demoting the ones who should be promoted. Men are most often snared by the traps they set themselves. Poetic justice is seen throughout the scriptures. Solomon’s father David wrote in 2 Sam 22.27 with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavory. Unsavory means to be twisted. Folly leads a man to be twisted and dishonest, and men who follow this path fall into their own pit they dig. Working with stones and forests can be hazardous, so use wisdom and be careful. A dull ax causes harder work. The investigator of hebel is advising to use you head and brains. Wisdom makes labor and life easier, folly defeats in every way.

10.11-15 words. The bite of a serpent is quick and unprovoked. Life lived on Folly Lane will do the same. The babbler (master) is no better. Solomon introduces words verses wisdom. Words from a wise man are beautiful while the fool swallows (destroys) himself. Fools begin with nonsense and end up speaking madness (folly). Here the word folly is used and translated madness. Folly is truly madness. Solomon is cataloging the list of hebel produced by folly. It is the cause and effect of folly. A fool is full (multiplies) of words. It is as though the only way he could have said less is to talk more. Foolish talk makes everyone around them tired and the fool cannot find the city (protected place). Fools talk themselves right out of safety.

10.16-20 kings. An unlucky kingdom has a child for a King and this allows the princes to party all night. Solomon is illustrating the consequences of folly in kings. Blessed is the kingdom where the king is mature and princes (head people, rulers) do not live in folly. The contrast of wisdom and folly in throne rooms is presented. Solomon now leaves the forests and fields and enters the highest places of rulers and laws to show folly is like the spider, it enters King’s palaces at times. Verse 18 and 19 almost seem out of place if not viewed in light of the hebel of folly in lives of kings. Things put together (building) fall apart without wisdom. Kingdoms cannot rule themselves. A kingdom left unsupervised will decay. While illustrating folly and wisdom as opposites Solomon shows that partying and money are parts of a kingdom. One brings the joy of life and the other provides answers to life needs. Folly speaks against kings out of jealousy or simplicity. Solomon reiterates that the lips of a fool can swallow himself up. If the king hears of your folly (foolish speaking and criticism), the end of the fool is in sight. Folly is the king of hebel.

Thanks for reading today…