Ecclesiastes 10:2
New International Version
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.

New Living Translation
A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.

English Standard Version
A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.

Berean Standard Bible
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

King James Bible
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

New King James Version
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left.

New American Standard Bible
A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart directs him toward the left.

NASB 1995
A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.

NASB 1977
A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.

Legacy Standard Bible
A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.

Amplified Bible
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].

Christian Standard Bible
A wise person’s heart goes to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A wise man’s heart goes to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.

American Standard Version
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The heart of the wise is at his right hand and the heart of a fool at his left

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

Contemporary English Version
Sensible thoughts lead you to do right; foolish thoughts lead you to do wrong.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.

English Revised Version
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A wise person's heart leads the right way. The heart of a fool leads the wrong way.

Good News Translation
It is natural for the wise to do the right thing and for fools to do the wrong thing.

International Standard Version
A wise man's heart tends toward his right, but a fool's heart tends toward his left.

JPS Tanakh 1917
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; But a fool's understanding at his left.

Literal Standard Version
The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, | And the heart of a fool at his left.

Majority Standard Bible
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

New American Bible
The wise heart turns to the right; the foolish heart to the left.

NET Bible
A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.

New Revised Standard Version
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

New Heart English Bible
A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.

Webster's Bible Translation
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left.

World English Bible
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.

Young's Literal Translation
The heart of the wise is at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wisdom and Folly
1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. 3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.…

Cross References
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Matthew 25:33
He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

Colossians 3:1
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.


Treasury of Scripture

A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

wise

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Luke 14:28-32
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? …

but

Ecclesiastes 10:10,14
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct…

Proverbs 17:16
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

Luke 12:18-20
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods…

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Ecclesiastes 10
1. observations of wisdom and folly
7. death in life
9. and the day of judgment in the days of youth, are to be thought on














(2) At his right hand.--Perhaps better, towards his right hand, i.e., leads him to go to the right hand. The thought is the same as Ecclesiastes 2:13, namely, that though the actual results of wisdom are often disappointing, the superiority of wisdom over folly is undeniable.

Verses 2, 3. - A tetrastich contrasting wisdom and folly. Verse 2. - A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. There is here no reference to the classical use of right and left, as ominous of success and disaster, which is never found in the Old Testament. The right hand is the place of honor, the left of inferiority, as a matter of fact, not of superstition and luck. The symbolism is intimated in Christ's account of the judgment (Matthew 25:31, etc.). But in the present passage we should best paraphrase - The wise man's heart, his understanding and sentiments, lead him to what is right and proper and straightforward; the fool's heart leads him astray, in the wrong direction. The former is active and skilful, the latter is slow and awkward. One, we may say, has no left hand, the other has no right. To be at the right hand is to be ready to help and guard. "The Lord is at thy right band," to protect thee, says the psalmist (Psalm 110:5). The wise man's mind shows him how to escape dangers and direct his course safely; the fool's mind helps him not to any good purpose, causes him to err and miss his best object.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A wise man’s
חָכָם֙ (ḥā·ḵām)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2450: Wise

heart
לֵ֤ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

inclines to the right,
לִֽימִינ֔וֹ (lî·mî·nōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south

but the heart
וְלֵ֥ב (wə·lêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

of a fool
כְּסִ֖יל (kə·sîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

to the left.
לִשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃ (liś·mō·lōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8040: Dark, the north, the left hand


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 10:2 A wise man's heart is at his (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 10:1
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