The Value of Wisdom
Ecclesiastes 7, verse 1. A good name is better than good olive oil, And the day of one's death Than the day of one's birth. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 2. It is better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of drinking, For this is the end of every man; And the living will take it to heart. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 3. Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 4. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of senseless men is in the house of merriment. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 5. It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise man Than for a man to hear the song of senseless men. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 6. For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of senseless men. This also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 7. Oppression makes a learned man dizzy And destroys his vigorous heart. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 8. The end of matters is better than their beginning, And a patient man is better than one haughty in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 9. Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of senseless men. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 10. Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 11. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 12. For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver, But the abundance of the knowledge of wisdom Will give life to him who has it. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 13. Behold the works of God, For who can put in order him Whom God made crooked? Ecclesiastes 7, verse 14. In the day of what is good, live in that goodness, But in the day of trouble, consider also That God made one harmonious with the other, That a man may not find out anything That will come after him. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 15. I saw everything in my days of vanity: There is a righteous man Who perishes in his righteousness, And there is an ungodly man Who remains alive in his vice. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 16. Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise, Lest you be confounded. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 17. Do not be very ungodly, Nor be hardened, Lest you die before your time. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 18. It is good that you lay hold of this And do not let your hand let go of it: For the one who fears God, all things will turn out well. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 19. Wisdom will help the wise More than ten rulers in the city. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 20. For there is not a righteous man on earth Who does good and does not sin. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 21. Also do not take to heart all the words people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 22. For very often he will act in an evil manner against you, And many times he will afflict your heart, Just as you have cursed others. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 23. I proved all this by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” Ecclesiastes 7, verse 24. But it was far from me. As for what is far off and exceedingly deep, Who will find it out? Ecclesiastes 7, verse 25. I and my heart went about to know, And to search and seek out wisdom And the account of things, And to know the foolishness, hardness, and madness Of the ungodly man. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 26. I find more bitter than death The woman who is a snare and her heart a net; And her hands are her chains. A man who is good in the sight of God will escape from her, But the sinner will be caught by her. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 27. “Behold, I found this,” says the Preacher, “Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason, Ecclesiastes 7, verse 28. Which my soul still seeks, but cannot find: I found one man among a thousand, But a woman among all these, I have not found. Ecclesiastes 7, verse 29. Except behold, I found this, That God makes man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”