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말은 그가 지혜자인지 우매자인지 판별하는 기준이 됩니다. 신중하게 듣고 진중하게 말하며 행동하는 참된 지혜가 필요합니다.  

[ 전도서 10:12 - 10:20 ] (찬송331장)

우매자의 입술 

12지혜자의 입의 말들은 은혜로우나 우매자의 입술들은 자기를 삼키나니 13그의 입의 말들의 시작은 우매요 그의 입의 결말들은 심히 미친 것이니라 14우매한 자는 말을 많이 하거니와 사람은 장래 일을 알지 못하나니 나중에 일어날 일을 누가 그에게 알리리요 15우매한 자들의 수고는 자신을 피곤하게 할 뿐이라 그들은 성읍에 들어갈 줄도 알지 못함이니라 

 왕의 축복 

 16왕은 어리고 대신들은 아침부터 잔치하는 나라여 네게 화가 있도다 17왕은 귀족들의 아들이요 대신들은 취하지 아니하고 기력을 보하려고 정한 때에 먹는 나라여 네게 복이 있도다

 여러 가지 지혜 

 18게으른즉 서까래가 내려앉고 손을 놓은즉 집이 새느니라 19잔치는 희락을 위하여 베푸는 것이요 포도주는 생명을 기쁘게 하는 것이나 돈은 범사에 이용되느니라 20심중에라도 왕을 저주하지 말며 침실에서라도 부자를 저주하지 말라 공중의 새가 그 소리를 전하고 날짐승이 그 일을 전파할 것임이니라

[ Ecclesiastes 10:12 - 10:20 ]

12The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter. 

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

The preacher declared that the wise won favour with their words while the words of the foolish led to self-destruction. The foolish did not think about the possible consequences of foolish and wicked words (vv. 12-15). The preacher also argued that nations that lacked order would be condemned while well-ordered nations with upright servants would be blessed. The preacher then warned that the houses of the lazy would fall and that insults and curses would multiply (vv. 16-20). 

What lesson is God teaching me?

Vv. 12-15 Words are powerful weapons. If we do not use our words appropriately, it can lead to our own ruin as well as the ruin of others. Words used appropriately win favour, but malevolent words turn into a self-destroying poison. Do you speak or send messages thoughtlessly? 

Vv. 19 Excessiveness turns into a poison while properness and restraint have a healing effect. Pleasure is not a sin in itself, but enjoying something to the point of it interfering with our daily lives is an evil. The same applies to the things we eat and drink. Is your daily life well-balanced and filled with discipline? 

Prayer

Lord, help me to remember that my words are a reflection of my character and to speak only words that are proper and win favour.