Ecclesiastes 7:11–16

11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing

and benefits those who see the sun.

12 Wisdom is a shelter

as money is a shelter,

but the advantage of knowledge is this:

Wisdom preserves those who have it.

13 Consider what God has done:

Who can straighten

what he has made crooked?

14 When times are good, be happy;

but when times are bad, consider this:

God has made the one

as well as the other.

Therefore, no one can discover

anything about their future.

15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,

and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

16 Do not be overrighteous,

neither be overwise—

why destroy yourself?

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

11 Wisdom is even better when you have money.

Both are a benefit as you go through life.

12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,

but only wisdom can save your life.

13 Accept the way God does things,

for who can straighten what he has made crooked?

14 Enjoy prosperity while you can,

but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.

Remember that nothing is certain in this life.

15 I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. 16 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,

And profitable to those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense,

But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

13 Consider the work of God;

For who can make straight what He has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful,

But in the day of adversity consider:

Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other,

So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.

15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity:

There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness,

And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.

16 Do not be overly righteous,

Nor be overly wise:

Why should you destroy yourself?

11 Wisdom is better when it comes with money.

They both help those who are alive.

12 Wisdom is like money:

they both help.

But wisdom is better,

because it can save whoever has it.

13 Look at what God has done:

No one can straighten what he has bent.

14 When life is good, enjoy it.

But when life is hard, remember:

God gives good times and hard times,

and no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

15 In my useless life I have seen both of these:

I have seen good people die in spite of their goodness

and evil people live a long time in spite of their evil.

16 Don’t be too right,

and don’t be too wise.

Why destroy yourself?

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything that shall be after him.

15 All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing. 16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun. 12 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. 13 Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked? 14 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. 15 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. 16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. It is an advantage to everyone who sees the sun. 12 Wisdom protects us just as money protects us, but the advantage of wisdom is that it gives life to those who have it. 

13 Consider what God has done! Who can straighten what God has bent? 

14 When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one time as well as the other so that mortals cannot predict their future. 

15 I have seen it all in my pointless life: 

Righteous people die in spite of being righteous. 

Wicked people go on living in spite of being wicked. 

16 Don’t be too virtuous, and don’t be too wise. Why make yourself miserable?

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance

and an advantage to those who see the sun,

12 because wisdom is protection as money is protection,

and the advantage of knowledge

is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

13 Consider the work of God,

for who can straighten out

what He has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

15 In my futile life I have seen everything: there is a righteous man who perishes in spite of his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in spite of his evil. 16 Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance,

an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,

and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it.

13 Consider the work of God;

who can make straight what he has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity, be joyful, and in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that comes after them.

15 In my vain life I have seen everything; there are righteous people who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked people who prolong their life in their evildoing. 16 Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself?

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance;

it benefits the living.

12 For wisdom offers protection like money offers protection.

But knowledge has an advantage—wisdom restores life to its possessor.

13 Consider the work of God.

For who is able to make straight what he made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity, rejoice!

But in the day of adversity, consider!

For God made one in place of another

so that mortals cannot find out what will happen in the future.

15 I have seen all these things in my vain life:

Sometimes a righteous man perishes in spite of his righteousness,

and sometimes a wicked man lives a long life in spite of his evil.

16 Do not be excessively righteous,

and do not act excessively wise, lest you destroy yourself.

11 Wisdom is a good thing.

It’s like getting a share of the family wealth.

It benefits those who live on this earth.

12 Wisdom provides safety,

just as money provides safety.

But here’s the advantage of wisdom.

It guards the lives of those who have it.

13 Think about what God has done.

Who can make straight

what he has made crooked?

14 When times are good, be happy.

But when times are bad, here’s something to think about.

God has made bad times.

He has also made good times.

So a man can’t find out anything

about what’s ahead for him.

15 In my meaningless life here’s what I’ve seen.

I’ve seen a godly man dying

even though he is godly.

And I’ve seen a sinful man living a long time

even though he is sinful.

16 Don’t claim to be better than you are.

And don’t claim to be wiser than you are.

Why destroy yourself?

11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good

And an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,

But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

13 Consider the work of God,

For who is able to straighten what He has bent?

14 In the day of prosperity be happy,

But in the day of adversity consider—

God has made the one as well as the other

So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

15 I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.

16 Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?