8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall
may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs
may be endangered by them.
10 If an ax is dull
and one doesn’t sharpen it first,
then one must exert more force.
It’s profitable to be skillful and wise.
11 If a snake bites before it’s charmed,
then there’s no profit
for the snake charmer.
12 Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial,
but fools are devoured by their own lips.
13 Fools start out talking foolishness
and end up speaking awful nonsense.
14 Fools talk too much!
No one knows what will happen;
no one can say what will happen in the future.
15 The hard work of fools tires them out
because they don’t even know the way to town!
| Reflection A fool starts out talking foolishness, but it gets even worse before they are done. As we read this, fools are speaking “awful nonsense”, and they talk way too much. The NIV calls it wicked madness— and fools multiply words. It reminds me of a saying, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” I will say I was a little baffled by the beginning verses, “Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.” What does it mean? Should we not work? I’ve dug pits and didn’t fall into them. And I’ve broken down walls, but I was never bitten by a snake. I don’t think I’ve ever been bitten by a snake. I decided to read the end of chapter 9 to see if it made sense, beginning in verse 13, to the End of the chapter. “I also observed the following example of wisdom under the sun—it impressed me greatly: There was a small town with only a few residents. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and waged a terrible war against it. Now there lived in that town a poor but wise man who saved everyone by his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor man. So, I thought, Wisdom is better than might, but the wisdom of commoners is despised and their words aren’t heeded. The calm words of the wise are better heeded than the racket caused by a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one incompetent person destroys much good.” I’m still not sure if I understand it. But I guess it comes down to “Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial, but fools are devoured by their own lips. Fools start out talking foolishly and end up speaking awful nonsense. Fools do talk too much! |
| By Rick Reed |
For Pondering and Prayer
Don’t be foolish. Nobody listens to you, anyway. Better to use the calm words of the wise.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, please help me to season my words with calmness. And help me to think before I speak. Amen.
