The Futility of Wisdom

I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom about everything that has been done under heaven. It is a sorry task with which God has given the sons of mankind to be troubled.

I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know insanity and foolishness; I realized that this also is striving after wind.

Because in much wisdom there is much grief; and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.

Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.

Wisdom Surpasses Foolishness

So I turned to consider wisdom, insanity, and foolishness; for what will the man do who will come after the king, except what has already been done?

Then I saw that wisdom surpasses foolishness as light surpasses darkness.

When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil.

For to a person who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is futility and striving after wind.

Wisdom and Foolishness Contrasted

A good name is better than good oil, And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.

Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

Wisdom along with an inheritance is good, And an advantage to those who see the sun.

For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps its possessors alive.

Wisdom strengthens a wise person more than ten rulers who are in a city.

I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but wisdom was far from me.

I directed my mind to know and to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of foolishness and the foolishness of insanity.

Obey Rulers

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

When I devoted my mind to know wisdom and to see the business which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

This too I saw as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me:

But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are ignored.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

A Little Foolishness

Dead flies turn a perfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more potent than wisdom and honor.