Ecclesiastes 10:2
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Wisdom Can Be Nullified By the Caprice of Rulers
10:2A wise person’s good sense protects him,5
but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.6
Footnotes
- 5 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).
- 6 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.
The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press
In other versions
ESVEnglish Standard Version
A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles
NIVNew International Version (2011)
The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.
CSBChristian Standard Bible
A wise person’s heart goes to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
NLTNew Living Translation
A wise person chooses the right road;
a fool takes the wrong one.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
LEBThe Lexham English Bible
The heart of the wise inclines to his right,
but the heart of the fool inclines to his left.
Copyright 2012 Lexham Press
KJV 1900King James Version
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
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