The [a]mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the [b]mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(A)

Read full chapter

12 For (A)wisdom is [a]protection just as money is [b]protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that (B)wisdom keeps its possessors alive.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:12 Lit in a shadow
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:12 Lit in a shadow

12 Wisdom is a shelter
    as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
    Wisdom preserves those who have it.

Read full chapter

15 I have seen everything during my [a](A)lifetime of futility; there is (B)a righteous person who perishes in his righteousness, and there is (C)a wicked person who prolongs his life in his wickedness.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:15 Lit days

15 In this meaningless life(A) of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
    and the wicked living long in their wickedness.(B)

Read full chapter

Obey Rulers

Who is like the wise person and who knows the meaning of a matter? A person’s wisdom (A)illuminates his face and makes his (B)stern face [a]brighten up.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:1 Or change

Who is like the wise?
    Who knows the explanation of things?
A person’s wisdom brightens their face
    and changes its hard appearance.

Read full chapter

15 But there was found in it a (A)poor wise man, and he [a]saved the city (B)by his wisdom. Yet (C)no one remembered that poor man.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:15 Or might have saved

15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.(A)

Read full chapter

16 So I said, “(A)Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are [a]ignored.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:16 Lit not listened to

16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.(A)

Read full chapter