Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 meaning

The closing passage of Chapter 10 contrasts good and bad princes. Woe is pronounced upon the land whose king is a lad and whose princes feast at inappropriate times (in the morning). Instead of working during the day, applying themselves to industry on behalf of their land, the princes in the land whose king is a lad consume the labor of others. They feast in the morning, to enjoy themselves and get drunk.

The word translated lad could be translated as "novice" or "apprentice." Such a ruler allows those in authority in the land to extract wealth from others. This creates a disincentive for the people of the land to work hard. It suppresses industry. It will lead the land to poverty, which is a great woe. The princes should be a positive example, and provide incentive for industry. Instead they are like locusts, and consume the bounty of others. The novice ruler does not discipline the princes and lead them to rule wisely.

On the other hand, blessed is the realm that is ruled by a qualified king (of nobility), whose administrators are motivated by the realm's welfare (they eat at the appropriate time, for strength) rather than the pursuit of their own fleshly desires (not for drunkenness).

Verse 18 portrays the detriment these rulers inflict upon a kingdom. As a result of laziness (indolence) and irresponsible inactivity (slackness) the realm is weak and open to outside threats (the rafters sag and the house leaks). Solomon is talking about the consequences of rulers and the impact of public policies. When government suppresses and consumes, rather than elevating and encouraging, it leads its realm into poverty.

There are three things men (humankind) do to display their foolishness. First, they prepare a meal for enjoyment. The word translated enjoyment is most often translated laughter. It is frequently used negatively, like cackling or madness. Rather than preparing a meal at the appropriate time (after the work is done) to gain strength, the foolish focus on pursuit of sensual pleasures such as drunkenness.

They look to wine for gladness. They perceive that wine is what makes life merry. Lastly, they think money is the answer to everything. The literal translation for this phrase is "money answers all."

In all three cases, men display a false perspective of reality. They believe fulfillment in life comes from gaining sensual pleasures (such as food and drink) and the money to purchase such pleasures. Further, they believe anything else they might need is answered by having even more money.

Chapter 10 ends with an admonition for the wise to be careful what they say about powerful people who could harm them: Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.

Words matter. The foolish fills the air with words. The wise need to be prudent what they speak, even in private. The principle here is that secrets always end up being known. If you want to criticize a king or a rich man, they will find out, and you will suffer the consequence. So better to only speak in private what you are willing to make known in public.

Jesus expands on this principle and applies it to our judgment before the Great King in Matthew 12:36-37, which says:

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."