Pengkhotbah 7:4

7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. ¹ 

Pengkhotbah 7:19

Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous

7:19 Wisdom gives a wise person more protection ² 

than ten rulers in a city.

Pengkhotbah 7:23

Human Wisdom is Limited

7:23 I have examined all this by wisdom;

I said, “I am determined ³  to comprehend this” ⁴  – but it was beyond my grasp. ⁵ 

Pengkhotbah 10:2

Wisdom Can Be Nullified By the Caprice of Rulers

10:2 A wise person’s good sense protects him, ⁶ 

but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. ⁷ 

[7:4]  ¹ sn The expression the house of merrymaking refers to a banquet where those who attend engage in self-indulgent feasting and riotous drinking.

[7:19]  ² tn Heb “gives strength.”

[7:23]  ³ tn The cohortative אֶחְכָּמָה (’ekhkamah, from חָכַם, khakham,“to be wise”) emphasizes the resolve (determination) of Qoheleth to become wise enough to understand the perplexities of life.

[7:23]  ⁴ tn Or “I am determined to become wise”

[7:23]  ⁵ tn Or “but it eluded me”; Heb “but it was far from me.”

[10:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “a wise man’s heart is at his right hand.” The phrase “right hand” is a Hebrew idiom for the place of protection (e.g., Pss 16:8; 110:5; 121:5). In ancient warfare, the shield of the warrior on one’s right-hand side protected one’s right hand. Qoheleth’s point is that wisdom provides protection (e.g., Eccl 7:12).

[10:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “and the heart of a fool is at his left hand.” The fool lacks the protection of wisdom which is at the right-hand side of the wise man (see note on “right hand” in the previous line). The wise man’s heart (i.e., good sense) protects him, but the fool is always getting into trouble.