Wisdom About What Matters Most
Study note
The Teacher shares surprising truths. A good reputation matters more than expensive perfume. Going to a funeral is more valuable than going to a party, because it reminds you that life is short. Sadness can actually make your heart wiser than constant laughter, which is as empty as thorns crackling under a pot.
1 A good name is more valuable than the most expensive perfume. And believe it or not, the day you die is more significant than the day you were born. A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2 Going to a funeral is better for you than going to a party. A funeral reminds you that everyone dies, and the living should let that truth sink deep into their hearts. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3 Grief does more for you than laughter, because a serious face leads to a wiser heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 Wise people think about the truths of death. Fools chase after one fun thing after the next. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is much better to hear a wise person point out your mistakes. That is worth more than a fool singing your praises. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 A fool's laughter is like the sound of thorns popping and crackling under a pot. It is loud and brief and amounts to nothing. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Patience and Contentment
Study note
The Teacher warns that even a wise person can be ruined by cruelty or bribery. Finishing something is better than starting it, and patience is better than pride. He warns people not to be quick to get angry, because anger lives in the hearts of fools. He also says not to wish for the "good old days," because that is not wise thinking.
7 Even a wise person can be twisted by oppression, and a bribe can poison an otherwise good heart. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 How something ends matters more than how it begins. Staying patient says more about you than being proud. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Do not get angry too quickly. Anger makes its home in the hearts of fools. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Never ask, "Why were things so much better back in the old days?" Asking that question does not come from wisdom. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
The Value of Wisdom
Study note
Wisdom combined with an inheritance is a good thing. Wisdom protects people just like money does, but wisdom has an extra advantage: it preserves the life of those who have it. The Teacher advises people to accept both good times and hard times, because God sends both.
11 Wisdom is excellent, especially when it comes alongside resources. It is a great benefit for everyone living under the sun. Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 Wisdom provides shelter the same way money does. But the bonus of wisdom is that it preserves the life of the person who has it. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Take a good look at what God has done. If he made something crooked, no human being can straighten it out. Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 On the good days, celebrate. On the hard days, reflect. God is the one who sends both, specifically so that no person can predict what is coming next. In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
Avoid Going to Extremes
Study note
The Teacher has seen righteous people die young and wicked people live long. He warns against being overly righteous or overly wicked. The person who respects God will avoid both extremes. He also admits that no one on earth is perfectly good and never sins. He advises people not to take every comment personally, because they themselves have spoken badly about others too.
15 During my brief time on earth, I have seen it all. Sometimes a righteous person dies early, and sometimes a wicked person lives a long life. All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
16 Do not go overboard trying to be righteous, and do not overdo it trying to be wise. Why would you destroy yourself? Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 At the same time, do not go overboard being wicked, and do not act like a fool. Why would you die before your time? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 The smart approach is to hold on to both sides and not go to either extreme. Someone who respects God will avoid going too far in any direction. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19 Wisdom gives a single wise person more strength than ten powerful rulers in a city. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20 Here is a fact: there is not a single person on earth who is so good that they only do right and never sin. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Do not pay attention to everything people say behind your back. You might overhear your own servant saying something terrible about you. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22 After all, be honest with yourself. You know full well that you have said unkind things about other people plenty of times. For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
The Search for True Wisdom
Study note
The Teacher tried hard to find wisdom, but it remained far away and deeply mysterious. He searched everywhere and found that foolishness is like a trap. He discovered that God made people good and upright, but they have chosen to go their own complicated ways.
23 I put all of this to the test using wisdom. I was determined to figure it out, but it remained out of reach. All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 Whatever the ultimate meaning of life is, it is far off and exceedingly deep. Who is capable of uncovering it? That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 So I worked hard to study and search for wisdom. I looked for the reasons behind things. I also wanted to see the folly and madness of evil up close. I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
26 What I found was something more painful than death itself: the person whose heart is like a hunting net and whose hands are like chains. The person who pleases God will get free of them, but the person living in sin will get caught. And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 "Here is what I found," says the Teacher. "I looked at one thing after the next. I searched for the deeper pattern." Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
28 I have been searching and searching but still have not found the complete answer. Among a thousand people I found one upright man, but I did not find a single upright woman among all of them. Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Here is one thing I know for sure: God made people to be good and honest. But they have gone off in a thousand wrong directions. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.