Verse 23
Ecclesiastes 7:23
New Living Translation
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.
Original Language Text
hebrew
כָּל זֹ֖ה נִסִּ֣יתִי בַֽ/חָכְמָ֑ה אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֶחְכָּ֔מָה וְ/הִ֖יא רְחוֹקָ֥ה מִמֶּֽ/נִּי
English Translation
All this I have tried with wisdom; I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
AI translation from hebrew via gpt-4o-mini
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Chapter 7 Context
1
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.<br>And the day you die is better than the da...
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2
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.<br>After all, everyone dies —<br>so the livin...
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3
Sorrow is better than laughter,<br>for sadness has a refining influence on us.<br>
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4
A wise person thinks a lot about death,<br>while a fool thinks only about having a good time.<br>
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5
Better to be criticized by a wise person<br>than to be praised by a fool.<br>
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6
A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,<br>like thorns crackling in a fire.<br>This also is meaningless.<...
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7
Extortion turns wise people into fools,<br>and bribes corrupt the heart.<br>
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8
Finishing is better than starting.<br>Patience is better than pride.<br>
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9
Control your temper,<br>for anger labels you a fool.<br>
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10
Don’t long for “the good old days.”<br>This is not wise.<br>
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11
Wisdom is even better when you have money.<br>Both are a benefit as you go through life.<br>
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12
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,<br>but only wisdom can save your life.<br>
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13
Accept the way God (Elohim) does things,<br>for who can straighten what he has made crooked?<br>
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14
Enjoy prosperity while you can,<br>but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God (Eloh...
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15
I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the lo...
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16
So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
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17
On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?
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18
Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God (Elohim) will avoid both extremes.
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19
One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
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20
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
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21
Don’t eavesdrop on others — you may hear your servant curse you.
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22
For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
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23
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am det...
24
Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.
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25
I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was dete...
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26
I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and he...
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27
“This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every...
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28
Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousa...
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29
But I did find this: God (Elohim) created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow...
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