HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 962
EC C LES I A S T ES 8
8
Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
9
Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
10
Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.
11
Wisdom is even better when you have
money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
Wisdom and money can get you almost
anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.
12
13
14
Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has
made crooked?
Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize
that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in
this life.
— promises —
from God
Those who are wise will
find a time and a way
to do what is right.
E C C LE S I A S T E S 8:5
The Limits of Human Wisdom
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? 17 On
the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t
be a fool! Why die before your time? 18 Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears
God will avoid both extremes.*
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.
25 I 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.
26 I discovered that a seductive woman* is a
trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a
snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who
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are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners
will be caught in her snare.
27 “This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher.
“I discovered this after looking at the matter
from every possible angle. 28 Though 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! 29 But I did
find this: God created people to be virtuous,
but they have each turned to follow their own
downward path.”
8
How wonderful to be wise,
to analyze and interpret things.
Wisdom lights up a person’s face,
softening its harshness.
1
Obedience to the King
2 Obey the king since you vowed to God that you
would. 3 Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and
don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the
king can do whatever he wants. 4 His command
is backed by great power. No one can resist or
question it. 5 Those who obey him will not be
punished. Those who are wise will find a time
and a way to do what is right, 6 for there is a time
and a way for everything, even when a person
is in trouble.
7 Indeed, how can people avoid what they
don’t know is going to happen? 8 None of us can
hold back our spirit from departing. None of us
has the power to prevent the day of our death.
There is no escaping that obligation, that dark
battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will
certainly not rescue the wicked.
The Wicked and the Righteous
9 I have thought deeply about all that goes on
here under the sun, where people have the
power to hurt each other. 10 I have seen wicked
people buried with honor. Yet they were the
very ones who frequented the Temple and are
now praised* in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless.
11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people
feel it is safe to do wrong. 12 But even though a
person sins a hundred times and still lives a
long time, I know that those who fear God will
be better off. 13 The wicked will not prosper, for
they do not fear God. Their days will never grow
long like the evening shadows.
14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our
world. In this life, good people are often treated
as though they were wicked, and wicked people
are often treated as though they were good. This
is so meaningless!
15 So I recommend having fun, because there
is nothing better for people in this world than
to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will
7:18 Or will follow them both. 7:26 Hebrew a woman.
8:10 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version;
many Hebrew manuscripts read and are forgotten.