Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10 (NRSV)

Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor;
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
    but the heart of a fool to the left.
Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense,
    and show to everyone that they are fools.
If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post,
    for calmness will undo great offenses.

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
    and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them;
    and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge,
    then more strength must be exerted;
    but wisdom helps one to succeed.
If the snake bites before it is charmed,
    there is no advantage in a charmer.

Words spoken by the wise bring them favor,
    but the lips of fools consume them.
The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,
    and their talk ends in wicked madness;
yet fools talk on and on.
    No one knows what is to happen,
    and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
The toil of fools wears them out,
    for they do not even know the way to town.

Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant,
    and your princes feast in the morning!
Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman,
    and your princes feast at the proper time—
    for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Through sloth the roof sinks in,
    and through indolence the house leaks.
Feasts are made for laughter;
    wine gladdens life,
    and money meets every need.
Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts,
    or curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
for a bird of the air may carry your voice,
    or some winged creature tell the matter.

This is a chapter that takes some digging, and even then might not be one we can connect closely to. Some random pieces of advice; some sage (or not so sage depending on your station in life) views on wisdom and foolishness.

And some witty examples of poetic justice.

Some of this passage might not be so meaningful to us - in terms of kings and servants. 

We have different ideas of stations or class in life.

And yet, we all know people who might put themselves in a station that is what others might consider beyond them.

Have you ever asked of yourself, "Who does s/he think s/he is!?"

And sometimes we are that person who lifts ourselves up in terms of ego.

Or put ourselves down in terms of insecurity.

And we know that sometimes whatever part of life we have placed ourselves in, poetic justice is going to turn everything on its head.

Sometimes irony rules.

Sometimes foolishness prevails over wisdom.

And sometimes humor is the way to get through that!

Ecclesiastes is a great example of the dangers of reading scripture literally as a book of rules. 

And yet even within it, we find another kind of truth, even if it is one we one that might make us squirm with discomfort.

God, you afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. Be present with us regardless of which it is we need! Amen