Matthew Henry Commentary Ecclesiastes 10:11-15

"If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer. The words of a wise man`s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him? The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city." — Ecclesiastes 10:11-15 (ASV)

There is a practice in the East of charming serpents by music. The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; and contradiction only makes it more violent. We must find the way to keep him gentle. But by rash, unprincipled, or slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon himself.

If we were to properly consider our own ignorance regarding future events, it would eliminate many idle words that we foolishly multiply. Fools toil a great deal to no purpose. They do not understand the plainest things, such as the entrance into a great city. But the excellence of the way to the heavenly city is that it is a high-way, in which the simplest wayfaring men shall not err (Isaiah 25:8). But sinful folly causes people to miss that only way to happiness.