Ecclesiastes 7:25–8:1

²⁵I studied and tried very hard to find wisdom,

to find some meaning for everything.

I learned that it is foolish to be evil,

and it is crazy to act like a fool.

²⁶I found that some women are worse than death

and are as dangerous as traps.

Their love is like a net,

and their arms hold men like chains.

A man who pleases God will be saved from them,

but a sinner will be caught by them.

²⁷The Teacher says, “This is what I learned:

I added all these things together

to find some meaning for everything.

²⁸While I was searching,

I did not find one man among the thousands I found.

Nor did I find a woman among all these.

²⁹One thing I have learned:

God made people good,

but they have found all kinds of ways to be bad.”

Obey the King

8No one is like the wise person

who can understand what things mean.

Wisdom brings happiness;

it makes sad faces happy.