The Value of Wisdom 1 Brenton A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of 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 Brenton It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good warning 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 Brenton Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better. BSB BSB: Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.
4 Brenton 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 Brenton It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man, 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 Brenton As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity. BSB BSB: For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.
7 Brenton For oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart. BSB BSB: Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Brenton The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded. BSB BSB: The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
9 Brenton Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger will rest 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 Brenton Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom 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 Brenton Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun. BSB BSB: Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.
12 Brenton For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has 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 Brenton Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked? BSB BSB: Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?
14 Brenton In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say , God also has caused the one to agree with the other for this reason, 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 Brenton I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining 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 Brenton Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded. BSB BSB: Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Brenton Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time. BSB BSB: Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
18 Brenton It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well . 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 Brenton Wisdom will help the wise man 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 Brenton For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin. BSB BSB: Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Brenton Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee. BSB BSB: Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.
22 Brenton For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others. BSB BSB: For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 Brenton All these things have I proved in 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 Brenton That which is far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?BSB BSB: What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?
25 Brenton I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account of things , and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man. 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 Brenton And I find her to be , and I will pronounce to be more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, who has a band in her hands: he that is good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught 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 Brenton Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, seeking by one at a time 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 Brenton which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have 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 Brenton But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices. Who knows the wise? and who knows the interpretation of a saying? 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.