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The Value of Wisdom
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Wisdom for Life
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies —
so the living should take this to heart.
After all, everyone dies —
so the living should take this to heart.
Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us.
for sadness has a refining influence on us.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
Better to be criticized by a wise person
than to be praised by a fool.
than to be praised by a fool.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Extortion turns wise people into fools,
and bribes corrupt the heart.
and bribes corrupt the heart.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
Patience is better than pride.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
for anger labels you a fool.
Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.
This is not wise.
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
Wisdom is even better when you have money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.
but only wisdom can save your life.
Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.
Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
Limits of Human Wisdom
All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
The Limits of Human Wisdom
I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.
One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
Don’t eavesdrop on others — you may hear your servant curse you.
For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am determined to be wise.” But it didn’t work.
Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?
Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.
I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.
and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;
“This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.
which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.
Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!