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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 7:23 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ec 7:23 |
Strong Concordance |
All this [02090] have I proved [05254] by wisdom [02451]: I said [0559], I will be wise [02449]; but it was far [07350] from me. |
| |
King James |
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
All this--resuming the "all" in Ecc 7:15; Ecc 7:15-22 is therefore the fruit of his dearly bought experience in the days of his "vanity."
I will be wise--I tried to "be wise," independently of God. But true wisdom was then "far from him," in spite of his human wisdom, which he retained by God's gift. So "over wise" (Ecc 7:16). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
I will be - Or, I am. There was a time when Solomon thought himself wise enough to comprehend the work of God, and therefore needed for himself the self-humbling conviction declared in this verse.
It - i. e. Wisdom. Compare Ecc 8:17. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| "All this have I proved by wisdom: I thought, Wise I will become; but it remained far from me." The ב in בּחכמה is, as at Ecc 1:13, that designating the organon, the means of knowledge. Thus he possessed wisdom up to a certain degree, and in part; but his purpose, comprehended in the one word אחכּמה, was to possess it fully and completely; i.e., not merely to be able to record observations and communicate advices, but to adjust the contradictions of life, to expound the mysteries of time and eternity, and generally to solve the most weighty and important questions which perplex men. But this wisdom was for him still in the remote distance. It is the wisdom after which Job, chap. 28, made inquiry in all regions of the world and at all creatures, at last to discover that God has appointed to man only a limited share of wisdom. Koheleth briefly condenses Job 28:12-22 in the words following: |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Proved - I have found to be true, by the help of that singular wisdom which God had given me. I said - I determined that I would attain perfection of wisdom. But - I found myself greatly disappointed. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| All this have I proved by wisdom - These rules I have laid down for my own conduct, and sought after more wisdom; but have fallen far short of what I wished to be. |
16 Be not righteous [06662] over much [07235]; neither make thyself over [03148] wise [02449]: why shouldest thou destroy [08074] thyself?
15 All things have I seen [07200] in the days [03117] of my vanity [01892]: there is [03426] a just [06662] man that perisheth [06] in his righteousness [06664], and there is a wicked [07563] man that prolongeth [0748] his life in his wickedness [07451].
16 Be not righteous [06662] over much [07235]; neither make thyself over [03148] wise [02449]: why shouldest thou destroy [08074] thyself?
17 Be not over much [07235] wicked [07561], neither be thou foolish [05530]: why shouldest thou die [04191] before thy time [06256]?
18 It is good [02896] that thou shouldest take hold [0270] of this; yea, also from this [02088] withdraw [03240] not thine hand [03027]: for he that feareth [03373] God [0430] shall come forth [03318] of them all.
19 Wisdom [02451] strengtheneth [05810] the wise [02450] more than ten [06235] mighty [07989] men which are in the city [05892].
20 For there is not a just [06662] man [0120] upon earth [0776], that doeth [06213] good [02896], and sinneth [02398] not.
21 Also take [05414] no heed [03820] unto all words [01697] that are spoken [01696]; lest thou hear [08085] thy servant [05650] curse [07043] thee:
22 For oftentimes [06471] [07227] also thine own heart [03820] knoweth [03045] that thou thyself likewise hast cursed [07043] others [0312].
15 All things have I seen [07200] in the days [03117] of my vanity [01892]: there is [03426] a just [06662] man that perisheth [06] in his righteousness [06664], and there is a wicked [07563] man that prolongeth [0748] his life in his wickedness [07451].
17 Then I beheld [07200] all the work [04639] of God [0430], that a man [0120] cannot [03201] find out [04672] the work [04639] that is done [06213] under the sun [08121]: because [0834] though [07945] a man [0120] labour [05998] to seek it out [01245], yet he shall not find [04672] it; yea further; though a wise [02450] man think [0559] to know [03045] it, yet shall he not be able [03201] to find [04672] it.
12 But where [0370] shall wisdom [02451] be found [04672]? and where is the place [04725] of understanding [0998]?
13 Man [0582] knoweth [03045] not the price [06187] thereof; neither is it found [04672] in the land [0776] of the living [02416].
14 The depth [08415] saith [0559], It is not in me: and the sea [03220] saith [0559], It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten [05414] for gold [05458], neither shall silver [03701] be weighed [08254] for the price [04242] thereof.
16 It cannot be valued [05541] with the gold [03800] of Ophir [0211], with the precious [03368] onyx [07718], or the sapphire [05601].
17 The gold [02091] and the crystal [02137] cannot equal [06186] it: and the exchange [08545] of it shall not be for jewels [03627] of fine gold [06337].
18 No mention [02142] shall be made of coral [07215], or of pearls [01378]: for the price [04901] of wisdom [02451] is above rubies [06443].
19 The topaz [06357] of Ethiopia [03568] shall not equal [06186] it, neither shall it be valued [05541] with pure [02889] gold [03800].
20 Whence [0370] then cometh [0935] wisdom [02451]? and where is the place [04725] of understanding [0998]?
21 Seeing it is hid [05956] from the eyes [05869] of all living [02416], and kept close [05641] from the fowls [05775] of the air [08064].
22 Destruction [011] and death [04194] say [0559], We have heard [08085] the fame [08088] thereof with our ears [0241].
13 And I gave [05414] my heart [03820] to seek [01875] and search out [08446] by wisdom [02451] concerning all things that are done [06213] under heaven [08064]: this sore [07451] travail [06045] hath God [0430] given [05414] to the sons [01121] of man [0120] to be exercised [06031] therewith.