Ecclesiastes 7:11-29 ▼

11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

12 For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

13 Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?

14 In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

15 During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

16 So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.

17 Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.

18 It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

19 Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

20 For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.

21 Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.

22 For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times.

23 I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, |I am determined to comprehend this|--but it was beyond my grasp.

24 Whatever has happened is beyond human understanding; it is far deeper than anyone can fathom.

25 I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

26 I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter's snare; her heart is like a hunter's net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.

27 The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.

28 What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.

29 This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.