Ecclesiastes 10:2

A wise person’s good sense protects him, ¹  but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. ² 

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.

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

The hearts of the wise lead them to do right, and the hearts of the foolish lead them to do evil.

Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.

The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

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

A wise person’s good sense protects him, ¹  but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. ² 

¹ tn Heb “a wise man’s heart is at his right hand.” The phrase “right hand” is a Hebrew idiom for the place of protection (e.g., Pss 16:8; 110:5; 121:5). In ancient warfare, the shield of the warrior on one’s right-hand side protected one’s right hand. Qoheleth’s point is that wisdom provides protection (e.g., Eccl 7:12).

² tn Heb “and the heart of a fool is at his left hand.” The fool lacks the protection of wisdom which is at the right-hand side of the wise man (see note on “right hand” in the previous line). The wise man’s heart (i.e., good sense) protects him, but the fool is always getting into trouble.