Existence of Paradoxes (Ecc 10: 7-11)

EXISTENCE OF PARADOXES (Ecc 10: 7-11):

After writing about the enigma of folly and wise in inappropriate places, the author continues to write about certain other paradoxes. The author writes that he had seen servants upon horses and princes walking as servants upon the earth. Sometimes even a soldier goes in the horses during his time and the Princes walk by feet upon the face of the earth during the time of war and even runs for life at the time of defeat. There is no certainty that comfort is only assimilated by the princes, at times the comfort could be moved to the servants as part of their duty or a favor. The author also writes that he who digs a pit shall fall into it and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.  The person who cunningly acts to suppress or betray others will fall into the same trap sometimes. Even if a person feels like succeeding in making someone falls, it is not actually true as they will ripe the consequences of it. The person who breaks the wall or territory of another will also receive the punishment because it affects the dignity of the other.

The author then writes that he who quarries stones is hurt by them and he who splits logs is endangered by them. The breaking or digging of stones may not be easy, and even sometimes it breaks randomly and the splits of it could hurt a person. Likewise, the splitting of the wood may also cause hurt at times. It is good to be cautious while acting hardly. Sometimes the breaking and splitting need to happen for progression but it should be done with extra care and attention. The author also writes that if the iron is blunt and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. The axe made of iron is used to cut down something and if the edge is not sharpened properly, the cutting process requires more time. More the sharper edge, the less strength is required. Likewise, one needs to take some time to think and plan before acting out something through wisdom which helps a person to achieve something with less strength, more efficiently.

The author continues to write that surely the serpent will bite without enchantment and a babbler is no better. The serpent has its characteristic to bite when someone crosses its way, though he does it without any point of attraction or advantage for it. The babbler does the same like a serpent. When someone passes the way of the babbler he pronounces vain words without a purpose and direction or benefit, either way.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What the author had seen? What does it mean?

2.    What does it mean that he who digs a pit will fall into it?

3.    What does it mean that a serpent will bite who breaks through a wall?

4.    How one who quarries stones is hurt by them?

5.    How one who splits logs is endangered by them?

6.    When one needs to use more strength? How?

7.    What helps one to succeed? How?

8.    What does it mean that a serpent bites without enchantment?

9.    How a blabber is compared to the serpent?

10. What are the different paradoxes we see? How can we face it?