the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
World English Bible
Ecclesiastes 10:2
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.
A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left.
A wyse mans heart is vpon his right hande, but a fooles heart vpon his left.
The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, But a fool's heart at his left.
The heart of the wise is toward his right, but the fool's heart toward his left.
The thoughts of the wise lead them the right way, but the thoughts of the foolish lead them the wrong way.
A wise mans heart is at his right hand: but a fooles heart at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
A wyse mans hert is vpon the right hande, but a fooles hert is vpon the left.
Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.
A wise man's heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool's heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation].
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left.
A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart [is] at his left.
A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.
Sensible thoughts lead you to do right; foolish thoughts lead you to do wrong.
A wise man's heart leads him rightly, but a fool's heart leads him astray;
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a foole is at his left hand.
A wise mans heart thinks rightly; but a fools heart thinks wrongly.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.
A wise man's heart leads him toward the right. But the foolish man's heart leads him toward the left.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
A wise man's heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, - But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
The heart of the wise inclines to his right, but the heart of the fool inclines to his left.
A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.
A wise person's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person's heart directs him toward the left.
The heart of the wise leads to right, but the heart of a fool leads to wrong.
It is natural for the wise to do the right thing and for fools to do the wrong thing.
A wise man's heart goes to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.
The herte of a wijs man is in his riyt side; and the herte of a fool is in his left side.
A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool's heart toward the left.
The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
wise: Ecclesiastes 9:10, Proverbs 14:8, Luke 14:28-32
but: Ecclesiastes 10:10, Ecclesiastes 10:14, Proverbs 17:16, Luke 12:18-20
Reciprocal: 1 Kings 12:8 - General 2 Chronicles 10:8 - he forsook Ecclesiastes 2:14 - wise Ecclesiastes 8:5 - a wise
Cross-References
Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.
The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (the same is the great city).
Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim.
To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.
I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.
Of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was your sail, that it might be to you for an ensign; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was your awning.
Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were among your merchandise.
Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with you.
You shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army;
Gill's Notes on the Bible
A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand,.... This is not designed to express the direct position and situation of the heart of man, wise or foolish, which is the same in both; and which, according to anatomists, is in the middle of the body, inclining to the left side; but the understanding and wisdom of men, as Aben Ezra observes; which, with a wise man, is ready a hand to direct and assist him in any affair; and which under the influence of it, he goes about with great readiness and dexterity, and performs it with great ease and facility, without sinister ends and selfish views; it inclines him to pursue the true way to honour, heaven, and happiness, which lies to the right; to seek things that are above, at the right hand of God; and, in all, his honour and glory;
but a fool's heart [is] at his left; he is at a loss for wisdom and understanding to direct him, when he has an affair of any moment upon his hand; which he goes about in an awkward manner, as left handed persons do, and has sinister ends in what he does; and he is to every good work reprobate and unfit, and seeks earth and earthly things, which lie to the left, and in all himself. The Targum is,
"the heart of a wise man is to get the law, which was given by the right hand of the Lord; and the heart of a fool to get the goods of gold and silver:''
so Jarchi,
"his wisdom is ready to incline him (the wise man) to the right hand way for his good; but the heart of a fool to pervert him from it.''
The ancients o used to call things wise and prudent the right hand and things foolish the left hand.
o Suidas in voce δεξια.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The metaphor perhaps means “A wise man’s sense is in its place, ready to help and protect him; but a fool’s sense is missing when it is wanted, and so is useless.”
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:2. A wise man's heart is at his right hand — As the right hand is ordinarily the best exercised, strongest, and most ready, and the left the contrary, they show,
1. The command which the wise man has over his own mind, feelings, passions, c., and the prudence with which he acts. And,
2. The want of prudence and management in the fool, who has no restraint on his passions, and no rule or guard upon his tongue. The right hand and the left are used in Scripture to express good and evil. The wise man is always employed in doing good the fool, in nonsense or evil.
