For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, “I am determined to comprehend this” – but it was beyond my grasp.

This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.

If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

I thought to myself, “I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”

So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.

I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.