The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly
This first section I took from the New International Version (NIV) Study Bible instead of my usual English Standard Version (ESV). NIV seems to simplify things for me and make them easier to understand. This part had so much wisdom, I decided to transfer it all!
- A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
- It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.
- Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
- The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
- It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
- Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
- Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
- The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
- Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
- Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
- Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
- Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.
- Consider what God has done:
Who can straighten what he has made crooked? - When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider:
God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. - In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:
a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. - Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise–why destroy yourself?
- Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool–why die before your time?
- It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
- Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
- There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.
- Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you–
- for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
Keep the King’s Command
Who is like the wise?
Ecclesiastes 8:1
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A man’s wisdom makes his face shine,
and the hardness of his face is changed.
This section discussed keeping the king’s command because of God’s oath to him. It said not to be hasty and go against him or to take a stand in an evil cause. The word of the king is supreme, and the people were to keep the command.
Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death.
Ecclesiastes 8:5-8
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
Man Cannot Know God’s Ways
There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are the righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous.
And I command joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun. When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep, then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
Ecclesiastes 8:15-17
Death Comes to All
No matter what death will come to all, and the future is under God’s control, and no one knows whether that future will be good or bad; love or hate. It is the same for all since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, the good and the evil, the clean and the unclean, etc.
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have no more share in all that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:3-6
Enjoy Life with the One You Love
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments always be white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
Wisdom Better than Folly
Here it discussed that it doesn’t matter who you are, what journey in life you’re on, how rich or poor you are, how intelligent, etc. but time and chance happen to everyone. We do not know our time.
Then, it told a story of a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against them and besieged it. But, there was a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom saved the city. Yet, no one remembered that poor man. It says that wisdom is better than might, though the man’s wisdom was despised and his words were not heard.
The words of the wise heard in quiet
are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.
-Ecclesiastes 9:17-18
A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
-Ecclesiastes 10:2
If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
-Ecclesiastes 10:10
If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
-Ecclesiastes 10:11
The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
-Ecclesiastes 10:12
Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
-Ecclesiastes 10:18
Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
-Ecclesiastes 10:19
Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
-Ecclesiastes 10:20
Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters
This part was confusing to me at first, but after studying it I understand a little better. Basically this means be adventurous, like those who accept the risks and reap the benefits of seaborne trade. Do not always play it safe.
Be generous while you have plenty, as unforeseen disasters may make you dependent on the generosity of others. Do not toy with maybes and might-have-beens. Start where you can, and recognize how limited your role (or knowledge) is.
Life life to the fullest!
As you do not know the way the spirit
comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child,
so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
-Ecclesiastes 11:5
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant
for the eyes to see the sun.
-Ecclesiastes 11:7
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.
Walk in the ways of your heart
and the sight of your eyes.
But know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.
-Ecclesiastes 11:9
Remember Your Creator in Your Youth
Here was a section with a graphic description of man’s progressive deterioration; an allegory of aging. It gave different examples related to aging and ultimately said, “the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
Vanity, or meaningless, is our life “under the sun” (on earth, apart from God), ending in brokenness. But with a relationship to our Creator already demanded, and with the fact of his judgment affirmed, vanity (meaningless) is not the last word.
Fear God and Keep His Commandments
Aside from being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14