Ecclesiastes 7 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Wisdom for Life

Ecc 7:1A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.

Ecc 7:2Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies—
so the living should take this to heart.

Ecc 7:3

Ecc 7:3Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us.

Ecc 7:4

Ecc 7:4A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Ecc 7:5

Ecc 7:5Better to be criticized by a wise person
than to be praised by a fool.

Ecc 7:6

Ecc 7:6A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.

Ecc 7:7

Ecc 7:7Extortion turns wise people into fools,
and bribes corrupt the heart.

Ecc 7:8

Ecc 7:8Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.

Ecc 7:9

Ecc 7:9Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.

Ecc 7:10

Ecc 7:10Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.

Ecc 7:11

Ecc 7:11Wisdom is even better when you have money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.

Ecc 7:12

Ecc 7:12Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.

Ecc 7:13

Ecc 7:13Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?

Ecc 7:14

Ecc 7:14Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.

The Limits of Human Wisdom

Ecc 7:15

Ecc 7:15I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.

Ecc 7:16

Ecc 7:16So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?

Ecc 7:17

Ecc 7:17On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?

Ecc 7:18

Ecc 7:18Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.[fn]

Ecc 7:19

Ecc 7:19One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!

Ecc 7:20

Ecc 7:20Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.

Ecc 7:21

Ecc 7:21Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you.

Ecc 7:22

Ecc 7:22For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.

Ecc 7:23

Ecc 7:23I 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.

Ecc 7:24

Ecc 7:24Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.

Ecc 7:25

Ecc 7:25I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.

Ecc 7:26

Ecc 7:26I discovered that a seductive woman[fn] is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare.

Ecc 7:27

Ecc 7:27“This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.

Ecc 7:28

Ecc 7:28Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!

Ecc 7:29

Ecc 7:29But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”