Pengkhotbah 10:9-11

10:9 One who quarries stones may be injured by them;

one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10:10 If an iron axhead ¹  is blunt and a workman ²  does not sharpen ³  its edge, ⁴ 

he must exert a great deal of effort; ⁵ 

so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

10:11 If the snake should bite before it is charmed, ⁶ 

the snake charmer ⁷  is in trouble. ⁸ 

[10:10]  ¹ tn The term “ax head” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity. The preceding noun “iron” functions as a metonymy of material (i.e., iron) for the object with which it is associated (i.e., ax head).

[10:10]  ² tn Heb “he”; the referent (the workman) is implied, and has been specified in the translation for clarity

[10:10]  ³ tn The verb קלל in the Pilpel means “to sharpen; to make a blade sharp” (HALOT 1104 s.v. קלל 1).This denominative verb is derived from the rare noun II קָלַל “smooth; shiny” (referring to bronze; Ezek 1:7; Dan 10:6; HALOT 1105 s.v.). Sharpening the blade or head of a bronze ax will make it smooth and shiny. It is not derived from I קָלַל (qalal) “to treat light” or the noun I קְלָלָה (qÿlalah) “curse.” Nor is it related to I קָלַל “to shake” (Ezek 21:26); cf. HALOT 1104. BDB 886 s.v. קָלַל 2 erroneously relates it to I קָלַל, suggesting “to whet” or “to move quickly to and fro.”

[10:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “face.”

[10:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “strength.” The term וַחֲיָלִים (vakhayalim, conjunction + plural noun from חַיִל, khayil, “strength; efficiency”) is an example of a plural of intensification (GKC 397-98 §124.e). The point is that it is a waste of a great deal of strength and energy. If a person is not smart, he will have to use a lot of energy and waste his efficiency.

[10:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “without charming.”

[10:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “the master of the tongue.”

[10:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “has no profit”; ASV, NAB, NRSV “there is no advantage.”