The Value of Wisdom 1 AKJV A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. BSB BSB: A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
2 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.
3 AKJV Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. BSB BSB: Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.
4 AKJV The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. BSB BSB: The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5 AKJV It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. BSB BSB: It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
6 AKJV For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. BSB BSB: For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.
7 AKJV Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; and a gift destroys the heart. BSB BSB: Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 AKJV Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. BSB BSB: The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
9 AKJV Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools. BSB BSB: Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
10 AKJV Say not you, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this. BSB BSB: Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.
11 AKJV Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. BSB BSB: Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.
12 AKJV For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it. BSB BSB: For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
13 AKJV Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked? BSB BSB: Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?
14 AKJV In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. BSB BSB: In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.
The Limits of Human Wisdom 15 AKJV All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness. BSB BSB: In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
16 AKJV Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why should you destroy yourself? BSB BSB: Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 AKJV Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before your time? BSB BSB: Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
18 AKJV It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all. BSB BSB: It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.
19 AKJV Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. BSB BSB: Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.
20 AKJV For there is not a just man on earth, that does good, and sins not. BSB BSB: Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 AKJV Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you: BSB BSB: Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.
22 AKJV For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others. BSB BSB: For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 AKJV All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. BSB BSB: All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.
24 AKJV That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? BSB BSB: What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?
25 AKJV I applied my 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: BSB BSB: I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.
26 AKJV And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. BSB BSB: And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.
27 AKJV Behold, this have I found, says the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: BSB BSB: “Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.
28 AKJV Which yet my soul seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. BSB BSB: While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.
29 AKJV See, this only have I found, that God has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. BSB BSB: Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.