心常擇善居右、憑真智慧行路(傳十)中英bilingual

智慧人的心居右；愚昧人的心居左。挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。(傳 10：2、8) 

本章，以「一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮」（參傳 10：1）破題，點出智慧的馨香之氣，會受到愚昧所影響，其中，舉凡君臣之間、智愚之間、勤懶之間，都可以看到傳道書闡明許多智慧與一針見血的參透；聖經常以「左右」之寓意喻指善與惡、正與反等，一般而言，「右」代表善、正的方面，「左」表示惡、偏的面向，如主耶穌曾論「綿羊山羊」之比喻，順服的綿羊安置在右邊、蒙神賜福進永生；偏行己路的山羊安置在左邊，被神咒詛入永刑（參太25章），我們既知道當如居右的綿羊，擇一條善路，就更應當成為行止公義的信徒，勿踩踏罪惡、偏邪，最終自取滅亡。 

鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費氣力；但得智慧指教，便有益處。未行法術以先，蛇若咬人，後行法術也是無益。(傳 10：10-11) 

筆者對此深有體悟，在這個資訊爆炸、瞬息萬變的世界，「工欲善其事、必先利其器」已經是基本思想，我們都深怕因沒有好的工具而落後他人，所以要用最快的網速、最棒的處理器，要有最大的記憶體，甚至最好的顯示器、音效，然而，我們真正該「磨」的，難道只是工具？到底真正會讓我們多費氣力的是什麼？答案便在下一句「得智慧指教，便有益處」，是否曾有過買了最好的產品，但卻沒用過幾次，甚至發現沒必要用如此高檔，更甚者，因為這些事物，導致自己受害（傷眼睛、聽力、精神，或提心吊膽怕被偷或者摔壞等等），過猶不及！

11節所說的蛇咬與法術之間雖抽象，但可理解成在遇到危險，縱然已有萬全準備、自信滿滿，但因為一時失去警醒而功虧一簣。 

我們擔心落後而裝備自己，終日磨刀害怕多費力氣，然而也有準備好的人，因為一時失去警醒而功敗垂成，所以，真正的「萬全」，就是真智慧指教，因為走錯的冤枉路，遠比走得慢更為可嘆！我們身處的世界，許多似是而非迷人耳目，我們往往自認用了對的方式、對的工具，然而卻走在錯的道路；應當從聖經多多知曉生命的真智慧，如傳道書作者，窮盡一生尊榮卻也看透浮華，在人生的終局之前，選定、走在正確的道路上。 

愚昧人多有言語，人卻不知將來有什麼事；他身後的事誰能告訴他呢？凡愚昧人，他的勞碌使自己困乏，因為連進城的路，他也不知道。（傳 10：14） 

願我們都如智慧人，知曉靈命的歸宿更勝過屬世的虛浮，不因汲汲營營的勞碌困乏自己，而是能夠透由真智慧的帶領，走在對的路上，得享安息與福樂。 

滿了一把，得享安靜，強如滿了兩把，勞碌捕風。（傳 4：6） 

By曾睦恩

真耶穌教會石牌教會、天母教會線上講道

石牌教會https://www.youtube.com/@TJChurchShipai

天母教會https://www.youtube.com/c/TJC_Tianmu/featured

Choosing the Right Path with a Wise Heart

(​Ecclesiastes 10)

​A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left. He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. (Ecclesiastes 10:2, 8)

​This chapter begins with the theme: "A little foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor" (ref. Eccl 10:1). It points out that the sweet fragrance of wisdom can be stained by folly. Throughout this text, whether it is between rulers and subjects, the wise and the fools, or the diligent and the lazy, we can see Ecclesiastes clarifying much wisdom with sharp, penetrating insight. In the Bible, the metaphor of "left and right" is often used to symbolize good and evil, or the upright and the contrary. Generally speaking, the "right" represents the good and upright side, while the "left" represents the evil and different direction. For example, the Lord Jesus once spoke the parable of the "sheep and the goats": the obedient sheep are placed on the right and blessed by God to enter eternal life, while the goats who go their own way are placed on the left and cursed by God into eternal punishment (ref. Matt 25). Since we know we should be like the sheep on the right and choose a good path, we should all the more become believers who act with righteousness, not stepping into evil or difference, which leads to self-destruction.

​If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the ncharmer. (Eccl 10:10-11)

​The author has a deep realization regarding this. In this world of information explosion and rapid change, the idea that "to do a job well, one must first sharpen his tools" has become a fundamental thought. We are all deeply afraid of falling behind others because we don't have good tools. So, we want the fastest internet speed, the best processor, the largest memory, and even the best display and audio. However, is it really just the tools that we should be "sharpening"? What exactly is it that truly makes us exert more strength? The answer lies in the next sentence: "Wisdom has the advantage of giving success." Have you ever bought the "best" product but only used it a few times, or even found it wasn't necessary to use such a high-end item? Worse yet, have you been harmed because of these things (straining your eyes, hearing, or spirit, or being constantly anxious about it being stolen or broken)? Too much is as bad as too little!

​While the connection between the snake bite and the charming in verse 11 is abstract, it can be understood as facing danger—even if you are fully prepared and full of confidence, a single moment of losing vigilance can lead to total failure.

​We equip ourselves because we worry about falling behind, sharpening our blades all day long for fear of wasting strength. However, there are also prepared people who fail because they lose their alertness for a moment. Therefore, true "completeness" is the instruction of true wisdom, because taking the wrong road is far more lamentable than moving slowly! In the world we live in, many errors deceive the eyes and ears. We often believe we have used the right methods and the right tools, yet we are walking on the wrong road. We should seek to know much more of the true wisdom of life from the Bible, like the author of Ecclesiastes, who attained every honor throughout his life but also saw through the vanity. Before the end of life's journey, we must choose and walk on the correct path.

​Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him? The labor of a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city. (Eccl 10:14-15)

​May we all be like the wise, knowing that the destination of our spiritual life is worth more than worldly vanity. Let us not weary ourselves with restless, busy labor, but rather be able to walk on the right path through the guidance of true wisdom, enjoying rest and joy.

​One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.h (Eccl 4:6)

​By Zeng Mu-en