←Ecclesiastes 7→BSB

In This Chapter 67 terms

Key Terms

Wisdom 13 Stupid 10 Guilt (State) 4 Righteousness (Standard) 3 Awe (State) 3 Possession 2 Knowledge 2 Stupidity 2 Stupid (Foolish) Ability (Skill) Ability (Power) World Universe Miracle Ability (Spiritual) Lordship Spiritually To Cause to Possess Possession Intention (Evil) Be (Or Show Oneself) Just Acquit Justice (Right) Righteousness (Act) Just Put Right With Make Righteous Deserved Justify (Vindicate) Justify Justly Justice Righteousness (Quality) To Act Wickedly Act Unjustly Fear Fear (State) Fear (Terror) Fear (Reverence) Fear (Awe) Fearful Respect Respect (Among People) To Sin Sin Transgression Sin (Act) Sin (Incur Guilt) Guilty (Responsible) Guilt (Consequence) Guiltiness Trespass (Sin) Sinful Sin (Offense) To Stand Guilty Sin (Guilty) Sin (Wrongdoing) Guilty Considered Guilty Guilty Of Sin Previously Sin Against Stupidity (Folly) Upright Straightness Straight Be Straight

The Value of Wisdom

ⓘ These proverbs are like the sayings in the...

These proverbs are like the sayings in the Book of Proverbs.
1A good name is better than fine perfume,and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
ⓘ It is unwise to engage in carefree fun...

It is unwise to engage in carefree fun when wisdom calls for serious reflection on death (see also Ecclesiastes 2:12–13).
2It is better to enter a house of mourningthan a house of feasting,since death is the end of every man,and the living should take this to heart.
ⓘ good for the heart: Thinking clearly about death...

good for the heart: Thinking clearly about death helps us understand the seriousness of God's curse on sin and shows us the importance of enjoying life wisely (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
3Sorrow is better than laughter,for a sad countenance is good for the heart.4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
ⓘ Praise from a fool and enjoying a fool’s...

Praise from a fool and enjoying a fool’s laughter are temporary and worthless. Criticism from a wise person can lead to real benefits (Proverbs 17:10).
5It is better to heed a wise man’s rebukethan to listen to the song of fools.6For like the crackling of thorns under the pot,so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.
7Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool,and a bribe corrupts the heart.8The end of a matter is better than the beginning,and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,for anger settles in the lap of a fool.†10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”For it is unwise of you to ask about this.
ⓘ Wisdom and money are powerful tools for gaining...
11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good,and it benefits those who see the sun.12For wisdom, like money, is a shelter,and the advantage of knowledgeis that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
13Consider the work of God:Who can straighten what He has bent?14In the day of prosperity, be joyful,but in the day of adversity, consider this:God has made one of these along with the other,so that a man cannot discoveranything that will come after him.

The Limits of Human Wisdom

15In my futile life I have seen both of these:

A righteous man perishing in his righteousness,
and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

16Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.†

19Wisdom makes the wise manstronger than ten rulers in a city.20Surely there is no righteous man on earthwho does good and never sins.

21Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. 22For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

ⓘ it was beyond me: The Teacher could not...

it was beyond me: The Teacher could not find the wisdom or reasons he sought. Such reasons are hidden in God's mind (Ecclesiastes 3:11; 8:17).

23All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me. 24What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

25I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness. 26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

27“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation. 28While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman. 29Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”