I said,
“I will be wise”; but it was far from me.
Context / meaning
Ecclesiastes 7 [15.] All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing. Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don’t withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come out of them all. Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Ecclesiastes 7 [20.] Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin. Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you; for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others. All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; but it was far from me. That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out? I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
Ecclesiastes 7 [26.] I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
simpleton - uncertainty - zany
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:23
Context / meaning
Ecclesiastes 7 [15.] All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing. Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don’t withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come out of them all. Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Ecclesiastes 7 [20.] Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin. Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you; for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others. All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; but it was far from me. That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out? I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
Ecclesiastes 7 [26.] I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
simpleton - uncertainty - zany