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Read the Bible

Brenton's Septuagint

Ecclesiastes 7:11

Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Riches;   Wisdom;   The Topic Concordance - Goodness;   Profit;   Wisdom;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wisdom literature;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;   Poetry;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abba Saḳḳara;   Bar Ḳappara;   Ben-Baṭiaḥ;   Ben Kalba Sabbua';   Beruriah;   ḥuppah;   Judah I.;   Serah;   Sheshet;   Tarsus;   Zealots;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for September 3;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Wisdom is as good as an inheritanceand an advantage to those who see the sun,
Hebrew Names Version
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
King James Version
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
English Standard Version
Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
New American Standard Bible
Wisdom along with an inheritance is good, And an advantage to those who see the sun.
New Century Version
Wisdom is better when it comes with money. They both help those who are alive.
Amplified Bible
Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an [excellent] advantage for those who see the sun.
World English Bible
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wisedome is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sunne.
Legacy Standard Bible
Wisdom along with an inheritance is goodAnd an advantage to those who see the sun.
Berean Standard Bible
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.
Contemporary English Version
Having wisdom is better than an inheritance.
Complete Jewish Bible
Wisdom is good, along with possessions, an advantage to all who see the sun.
Darby Translation
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
Easy-to-Read Version
Wisdom is better if you also have property. Wise people will get more than enough wealth.
George Lamsa Translation
Wisdom is better than weapons; yea, it is better for those who see the light of the truth.
Good News Translation
Everyone who lives ought to be wise; it is as good as receiving an inheritance
Lexham English Bible
Wisdom is good with an inheritance; it benefits the living.
Literal Translation
Wisdom is good with an inheritance; yea, a gain to those who see the sun.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wy?dome is better then riches, yee moch more worth then the eye sight.
American Standard Version
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
Bible in Basic English
Wisdom together with a heritage is good, and a profit to those who see the sun.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wisdom is good with an inheritance, yea, a profit to them that see the sun.
King James Version (1611)
Wisedome is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profite to them that see the sunne.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wysdome with inheritaunce is good, yet better is it with them that without care may beholde the sunne:
English Revised Version
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance: yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe wisdom with richessis is more profitable, and profitith more to men seynge the sunne.
Update Bible Version
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yes, more excellent is it for those that see the sun.
Webster's Bible Translation
Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.
New English Translation
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.
New King James Version
Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.
New Living Translation
Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life.
New Life Bible
Wisdom with a gift passed down from father to son is good and a help to those who see the sun.
New Revised Standard
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, - and a profit, to such as see the sun.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-12) Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.
Revised Standard Version
Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
Young's Literal Translation
Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance, And an advantage [it is] to those beholding the sun.
THE MESSAGE
Wisdom is better when it's paired with money, Especially if you get both while you're still living. Double protection: wisdom and wealth! Plus this bonus: Wisdom energizes its owner.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an advantage to those who see the sun.

Contextual Overview

11 Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this. 12 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun. 13 For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it. 14 Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked? 15 In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say, God also has caused the one to agree with the other for this reason, that man should find nothing after him. 16 I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness. 17 Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded. 18 Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time. 19 It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well. 20 Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

good with an inheritance: or, as good as an inheritance, yea, better too. Ecclesiastes 9:15-18, 1 Kings 3:6-9, Luke 16:8, Luke 16:9, 1 Timothy 6:17-19

them: Ecclesiastes 11:7

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 3:9 - to judge Job 22:2 - as he that Proverbs 8:10 - General Proverbs 14:24 - crown Proverbs 21:20 - treasure Ecclesiastes 1:3 - under Ecclesiastes 2:13 - I saw Ecclesiastes 10:19 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 1:7
And God made the firmament, and God divided between the water which was under the firmament and the water which was above the firmament.
Genesis 6:17
Thou shalt narrow the ark in making it, and in a cubit above thou shalt finish it, and the door of the ark thou shalt make on the side; with lower, second, and third stories thou shalt make it.
Genesis 7:5
And Noe did all things whatever the Lord God commanded him.
Genesis 7:6
And Noe was six hundred years old when the flood of water was upon the earth.
Genesis 7:8
And of clean flying creatures and of unclean flying creatures, and of clean cattle and of unclean cattle, and of all things that creep upon the earth,
Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of the life of Noe, in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, on this day all the fountains of the abyss were broken up, and the flood-gates of heaven were opened.
Genesis 7:23
And God blotted out every offspring which was upon the face of the earth, both man and beast, and reptiles, and birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth, and Noe was left alone, and those with him in the ark.
Genesis 7:24
And the water was raised over the earth an hundred and fifty days.
2 Kings 7:2
And the officer on whose hand the king rested, answered Elisaie, and said, Behold, if the Lord shall make flood-gates in heaven, might this thing be? and Elisaie said, Behold, thou shalt see with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
2 Kings 7:19
And the officer answered Elisaie, and said, Behold, if the Lord makes flood-gates in heaven, shall this thing be? and Elisaie said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance,.... It is good of itself. Or, "is as good as an inheritance" n, as it may be rendered; it is a portion of itself, especially spiritual and divine wisdom. The Targum interprets it, the wisdom of the law, or the knowledge of that; but much more excellent is the wisdom of the Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom; the knowledge of which, in an experimental way, is preferable to all earthly inheritances: but this with an inheritance is good, yea, better than without one; for wisdom, without riches, is generally overlooked and despised in men; see Ecclesiastes 9:16; when wealth, with wisdom, makes a man regarded; this commands respect and attention; as well as he is in a better condition to do good, if willing to share, and ready to distribute;

and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun; mortals in this present state, who are described as such that see the sun rise and set, and enjoy the heat and light of it, receive much advantage from men who are both wise and rich: or, "and [it is] an excellency to them that see the sun"; it is an excellency to mortals and what gives them superiority to others, that they have both wisdom and riches.

n עם נחלה "aeque ac haereditas", Gejerus, Schmidt.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And by it there is profit ... - literally, And is profitable to the living. The same word as in Ecclesiastes 6:11, to the question in which it looks like an answer.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 7:11. Wisdom is good with an inheritance — In this chapter Solomon introduces many observations which appear to be made by objectors against his doctrine; and as he was satisfied of their futility, he proposes them in their own full strength, and then combats and destroys them. It is quite necessary to attend to this; else we shall take the objector's words for those of Solomon; and think, as some have done, that the wise man contradicts and refutes himself. Observations, reflections, and objections of friends and adversaries are frequently introduced in the works of ancient authors, without mentioning them as such. This is frequent, more particularly in ethic writers; and we have many specimens in Horace; and without this distinction, it would be impossible to make sense of some of his writings. Here, an objector, who had listened to the wise man declaiming in favour of wisdom, suddenly interrupts him, and says in effect, "I grant the truth of what you have said. Wisdom is very good in its place; but what is it without property? A man who has a good inheritance may be profited by wisdom, because it will show him how to manage it to the best advantage."


 
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