If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
If the lion be blunt - in 'cleaving wood' (Ecclesiastes 10:9), answering to the 'fool set in dignity' (Ecclesiastes 10:6), who wants sharpness.
Then must he put to more strength - more force has then to be used in both cases; but force without judgment 'endangers' one's self. The preference of rash to judicious counselors, which entailed the pushing of matters by force, proved to be the "hurt" of Rehoboam, (1 Kings 12:1-33.) Wisdom (is) profitable to direct - to a prosperous issue. Instead of forcing matters by main "strength" to one's own hurt (Ecclesiastes 9:16; Ecclesiastes 9:18). True wisdom is the prerogative of the people of God, which will at last prevail over the brute force of their worldly oppressors.