Ecclesiastes 7:12-28

¹²For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

¹³Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?

¹⁴In the day of prosperity be joyful; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.

¹⁵All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.

¹⁶Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

¹⁷Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?

¹⁸It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.

¹⁹Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

²⁰Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.

²¹Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!

²²For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast cursed others.

²³All this have I tried by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.

²⁴That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

²⁵I applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.

²⁶And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

²⁷Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.

²⁸That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.