The Work and the Words of the Wise

Introduction

Let me ask you: have you ever been in such a rush to finish something that you skipped over a basic precaution and paid the price for it later?

Maybe you were putting together a piece of furniture, ignored the instructions, and ended up with five extra screws and a shelf upside down. Or maybe you were using a tool with a dull blade, forcing it, rushing it—until it slipped and cut you.

Ecclesiastes 10 is full of these kinds of examples—not just about tools and work, but about how wisdom and foolishness show up in very ordinary things. In this section, the Teacher gives us a grounded, down-to-earth reflection on how wisdom protects, and how foolishness brings harm—especially through our words.

The main idea today is this: Wisdom is practical and protects, while foolishness brings harm—especially through words. Even things like how we work, how we speak, and how we make plans show whether we are living with God’s wisdom or not.

Let’s begin by looking at wisdom in work.

Ecclesiastes 10:8–15 NIV

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; 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 the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. 11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee. 12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. 13 At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness— 14 and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them? 15 The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.

Wisdom in Work (vv. 8–11)

“Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake…” (v. 8)

The Teacher begins with images that almost seem humorous, but they’re real dangers—falling into your own pit, getting bitten by a snake hiding in the wall, getting hurt by the very tools you’re using. What’s the point?

Any activity can become dangerous if the proper precautions and preparations are not taken.

Verse 10 says:

“If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.”

You see what he’s getting at: Foolish people charge ahead, but wise people pause and prepare. They sharpen the axe before they swing it.

That word “success” is key—it’s the Hebrew word יִתְרוֹן (yitrôn), which means profit, gain, or advantage. It’s a word the Teacher uses throughout Ecclesiastes. He’s asking, “Where is the true advantage in life?”

And here he answers: Wisdom brings advantage because it prevents ruin.

Think about your own life. Where are you rushing ahead without preparation? Are you swinging a dull axe—exhausting yourself and getting nowhere?

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stop and think. Pray. Prepare. Rest. Seek counsel. As one commentator put it, "We should not feel that it is a waste of time to pull back and sharpen our axes.”

Let’s be honest: in our productivity-driven culture, pulling back feels lazy. But biblically, slowing down to walk wisely is not lazy—it’s Godly.

Wisdom in Words (vv. 12–15)

Now the Teacher moves from how we work to how we speak.

“Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” (Ecclesiastes 10:12, NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV

12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.

This is such a vivid contrast: Wise words are gracious, life-giving, marked by humility and care. But what about the fool?

“Fools are consumed by their own lips.”

That’s a powerful image. The idea here is self-destruction. Their own words are their undoing. What comes out of their mouth ends up tearing them down. We sometimes say, “He’s digging his own grave” with his words—that’s what this verse is describing.

They talk themselves into trouble. Their careless, boastful, or bitter speech ends up doing more harm to them than to anyone else. Their own mouth becomes a trap.

Ecclesiastes 10:13 NIV

13 At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—

And it doesn’t stop there. Verse 13 shows that a fool’s talk starts foolish and gets worse:

"At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness." (v. 13, NIV)

There’s a progression. It starts off sounding silly—but the longer they talk, the more damaging it becomes. What begins as light foolishness descends into moral and mental chaos.

Ecclesiastes 10:14 NIV

14 and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

Verse 14 continues:

“Fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming—who can tell someone else what will happen after them?”

In other words, fools never know when to stop talking. They confidently speculate about things no one can know—especially the future. And yet, they speak with the tone of certainty.

This isn’t just ignorant—it’s arrogant.

Ecclesiastes 10:15 NIV

15 The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.

Finally, verse 15 delivers the punchline:

“The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.”

It’s an ancient idiom—“They don’t even know the way to the city.” In modern language, it would be like saying, “They couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag.” Their foolishness has made even the most basic task too hard. Their endless talking has exhausted them and gotten them nowhere.

Let’s pause and reflect: Do your words reveal wisdom or foolishness?

Do your words build others up, or wear them down?

Do you speak with grace or with arrogance?

Do you talk more than you listen?

The wise person speaks fewer words, but with more weight. The fool multiplies words and is consumed by them.

Next Steps: Wisdom in Everyday Life

So where does this leave us? As we reflect on these verses, let’s draw out three key ways we can live wisely in the everyday moments of life.

1. Wisdom leads to preparedness, caution, and effectiveness.

Don’t rush through life. Don’t skip preparation in your work, your family, or your spiritual life. Ask God to help you slow down, think, and act with intentionality.

Sharpen your axe before swinging it.

2. Your words are a window into your heart.

Let the Holy Spirit guide your speech. Speak less and listen more. When you do speak, speak with grace (Col. 4:6).

Pray as the psalmist did: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps. 141:3)

3. Even practical life reveals your worldview.

There’s no such thing as a neutral moment. How you work, how you talk, how you treat others—these are spiritual decisions. Wisdom is not just for the scholars and theologians. It’s for carpenters and parents and office workers and retirees.

Conclusion

In the end, Ecclesiastes 10:8–15 reminds us that wisdom is not just theoretical. It’s deeply practical. It’s for how you use a tool, how you plan a day, how you speak to your spouse or coworker.

And let’s remember: this wisdom doesn’t come from within—it comes from God. Proverbs tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Prov. 9:10)

So run to Him today. Ask for His wisdom. And live it out—even in the little things.

Let’s pray.

Bibliography

Hubbard, David A., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. Vol. 16 of The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1991. Moore, David G., and Daniel L. Akin. Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Edited by Max Anders. Vol. 14. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2003. Lohfink, Norbert. A Continental Commentary: Qoheleth. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003. Cone, Christopher. Life Beyond the Sun: An Introduction to Worldview & Philosophy through the Lens of Ecclesiastes. Ft. Worth, TX: Tyndale Seminary Press, 2009.

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The Work and Words of the Wise Ecclesiastes 10:8–15 reminds us that wisdom protects and foolishness harms—especially through our words. Learn how godly wisdom shapes even our daily work and speech.

#Ecclesiastes #Wisdom #BibleTeaching

📝 Sermon Notes Page

Title: The Work and Words of the Wise Text: Ecclesiastes 10:8–15 Key Verse: “The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.” (Ecclesiastes 10:15, NIV) Main Theme: Wisdom protects and prepares. Foolishness causes harm—especially through careless words.

I. Wisdom in Work (vv. 8–11)

🪓 What are the hazards mentioned in verse 8?

➡️ ___________________________________________________________ ➡️ ___________________________________________________________

🔧 What does verse 10 say about a dull axe?

➡️ “If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but __________ will bring success.”

📌 Hebrew word of the day: Yitrôn (יִתְרוֹן) — meaning “advantage,” “profit,” or “gain.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you “swinging a dull axe”?

What would it look like to pause and prepare with wisdom?

II. Wisdom in Words (vv. 12–15)

🗣️ According to verse 12:

Wise speech is __________________

Foolish speech _______________ the speaker

✍️ In verse 13, foolish speech begins with __________ and ends in ___________.

🎯 What kind of speech does verse 14 warn against?

🚧 Verse 15 paints a picture of a fool's exhaustion and incompetence. What does the phrase “they do not know the way to town” imply?

Reflection: What do your words say about your heart?

Where do you need to speak less and listen more?

🛠️ Application

Wisdom leads to:

Words are a window into the __________. How can you speak with grace this week?

Even the ordinary parts of life reveal your ________________. What area of your life needs to be brought under God’s wisdom?

💬 For Further Thought This Week:

What’s one way I can prepare more wisely instead of reacting hastily?

Where might I be letting careless words tear down instead of build up?

What’s one small change I can make to pursue God’s wisdom daily?

📖 Bible Study: The Work and Words of the Wise

Passage Focus: Ecclesiastes 10:8–15 Theme: Wisdom is practical—it protects and prepares. Foolishness brings harm, especially through words.

📅 Day 1 – Wisdom in Work

📖 Read: Ecclesiastes 10:8–11; Proverbs 21:5; Luke 14:28–30

✍️ Reflection:

Solomon illustrates the risks of careless work and unwise labor. Digging a pit, tearing down a wall, splitting logs—each comes with dangers. But notice, the danger doesn’t come from evil, but from foolishness. Lack of caution proves costly.

In verse 10, he offers the antidote:

“If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” (NIV)

The wise pause to sharpen the axe—they prepare and proceed with intentionality.

📚 Hebrew Word Study:

Yitrôn (יִתְרוֹן) – “Profit, advantage, gain”

Appears multiple times in Ecclesiastes (1:3, 2:11, 3:9).

Refers not just to money, but lasting value—true benefit in life.

🔍 Question: Where are you laboring hard but gaining little because the “axe” is dull? Where do you need to stop and sharpen—in your work, family, ministry, or spiritual life?

🙏 Prayer Prompt:

Ask God to show you the areas where you need to slow down, prepare, and sharpen your focus with His wisdom.

📅 Day 2 – Words that Build or Break

📖 Read: Ecclesiastes 10:12–13; Matthew 12:34–37; James 3:1–12

✍️ Reflection:

Verse 12 says:

“Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.”

Foolish words don’t just hurt others—they destroy the speaker. The progression is steep: words begin in folly and end in “wicked madness.” Foolish talk accelerates and unravels the soul.

📚 Hebrew Word Study:

Bālaʿ (בָּלַע) – “To swallow up, devour, consume” (v. 12)

Used in warfare or judgment (e.g., Num. 16:30–32; 2 Sam. 20:19–20)

Symbolizes complete destruction—fools are “eaten alive” by their own words.

🔍 Question: When have your words gotten ahead of your heart? Are your conversations marked more by grace or reaction?

🙏 Prayer Prompt:

Pray Psalm 141:3 – “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Ask God for a renewed heart that speaks with wisdom and grace.

📅 Day 3 – When Talk Wears You Out

📖 Read: Ecclesiastes 10:14–15; Proverbs 12:18; Ecclesiastes 3:7; James 1:19–20

✍️ Reflection:

Fools "multiply words," talking more than they understand. Verse 14 mocks the fool’s confidence about the future—no one knows what is coming, and yet fools speak as if they do.

Verse 15 is the climax:

“The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.”

Their efforts exhaust them because their foundation is flawed. Their speech is reckless. Their work is misdirected. Their foolishness touches every part of life—even the basics.

📚 Hebrew Word Study:

ʿāmāl (עָמָל) – “Toil, labor, trouble” (v. 15)

First seen in Ecclesiastes 1:3. Often connected with weariness and futility.

Describes labor without gain, effort without reward.

🔍 Question: Where in your life are you running in circles—talking, striving, toiling—without real direction? What does it mean to “not know the way to town” in your own experience?

🙏 Prayer Prompt:

Ask God to replace your self-driven striving with His direction. Pray for clarity, simplicity, and Spirit-guided speech and action.

🪜 Looking Ahead: Prepare for Next Week

Ecclesiastes reminds us that wisdom is revealed in the ordinary—how you swing an axe, how you speak to your family, how you respond in conversations.

Challenge for the Week:

Practice silence before speech.

Take 10 minutes each day to pray and reflect before major decisions or tasks.

Ask: “What would God’s wisdom look like here?”