Ecclesiastes 7

Wisdom for Life

1 A good reputation better than fine perfume, and the day you die better than the day you born.

2 It is better to go to a funeral than a party, death reminds the living where they headed.

3 Sorrow better than laughter because a sad face can make the heart wise.

4 The wise think about death; fools think about fun.

5 Better to hear correction from the wise than songs from fools.

6 The laughter of fools like crackling thorns under a pot, it makes noise but burns out quick.

7 Oppression drives the wise crazy, and bribes corrupt the heart.

8 Finishing better than starting, and patience better than pride.

9 Do not get angry quick; anger rests in the hearts of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better?”, that is not wisdom talking.

The Value of Wisdom

11 Wisdom good with an inheritance, it is an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 Wisdom protects like money does, but wisdom gives life to those who have it.

13 Consider what God is done, who can straighten what He made crooked,

14 When times good, enjoy them; when bad, consider this, God made both so no one knows what will come after.

15 I have seen it all in my meaningless life: the righteous dying early and the wicked living long.

16 Do not be overly righteous or overly wise, why destroy yourself,

17 Do not be overly wicked either or foolish, why die before your time,

18 Hold onto both truths, the one who fears God avoids extremes.

19 Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers in a city.

20 There is no one righteous on earth who does right and never sins.

Human Limitations

21 Do not listen to every word people say, you might hear your servant cursing you.

22 You know in your heart you have cursed others too.

23 I tested all this by wisdom and said, “I will be wise,” but wisdom stayed far from me.

24 Whatever exists is deep and far, who can find it out,

25 I turned my mind to understand wisdom and the cause of things, and to know wickedness and foolishness.

26 I found something more bitter than death, a woman who is a trap, her heart a net, her hands chains. The one who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner gets caught.

27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “I discovered this bit by bit while searching for understanding.”

28 I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.

29 Here is what I found: God made humans upright, but they chased after many schemes.