Ecclesiastes 7:19–24

19 Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful

than ten rulers in a city.

20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,

no one who does what is right and never sins.

21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,

or you may hear your servant cursing you—

22 for you know in your heart

that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

“I am determined to be wise”—

but this was beyond me.

24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—

who can discover it?

19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

19 One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!

20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.

21 Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. 22 For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.

23 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. 24 Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.

19 Wisdom strengthens the wise

More than ten rulers of the city.

20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good

And does not sin.

21 Also do not take to heart everything people say,

Lest you hear your servant cursing you.

22 For many times, also, your own heart has known

That even you have cursed others.

23 All this I have proved by wisdom.

I said, “I will be wise”;

But it was far from me.

24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep,

Who can find it out?

19 Wisdom makes a person stronger

than ten leaders in a city.

20 Surely there is not a good person on earth

who always does good and never sins.

21 Don’t listen to everything people say,

or you might hear your servant insulting you.

22 You know that many times

you have insulted others.

23 I used wisdom to test all these things.

I wanted to be wise,

but it was too hard for me.

24 I cannot understand why things are as they are.

It is too hard for anyone to understand.

19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city. 20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21 Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; 22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men that are in a city. 20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not. 21 Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee. 22 For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?

19 Wisdom will help a wise person more than ten rulers can help a city. 20 Certainly, there is no one so righteous on earth that he always does what is good and never sins. 

21 Don’t take everything that people say to heart, or you may hear your own servant cursing you. 22 Your conscience knows that you have cursed others many times. 

23 I used wisdom to test all of this. I said, “I want to be wise, but it is out of my reach.” 24 Whatever wisdom may be, it is out of reach. It is deep, very deep. Who can find out what it is?

19 Wisdom makes the wise man stronger

than ten rulers of a city.

20 There is certainly no righteous man on the earth

who does good and never sins.

21 Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, 22 for you know that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, “I will be wise,” but it was beyond me. 24 What exists is beyond reach and very deep. Who can discover it?

19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning.

21 Do not give heed to everything that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you; 22 your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.

23 All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

19 Wisdom gives more strength to the wise

than ten rulers who are in the city.

20 Surely there is no one righteous on the earth

who continually does good and never sins.

21 Do not pay attention to everything people say,

lest you hear your own servant curse you.

22 For your heart knows

that you also have cursed others many times.

23 All this I have tested with wisdom. I said, “I will be wise!” but it was beyond my grasp. 24 Whatever is—it is far beyond comprehension. Who can discover it?

19 Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful

than ten rulers in a city.

20 There isn’t anyone on earth

who does only what is right and never sins.

21 Don’t pay attention to everything people say.

If you do, you might hear your servant calling down a curse on you.

22 Many times you yourself have called down curses on others.

Deep down inside, you know that’s true.

23 I used wisdom to put all of those things to the test. I said,

“I’ve made up my mind to be wise.”

But it was more than I could accomplish.

24 No matter what else wisdom may be,

it’s far away and very deep.

Who can find it?

19 Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

21 Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.

22 For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

23 I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.

24 What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it?