In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
Comment: I must confess that if I read this through quickly and unthinkingly it seems like a jumble of words and half truths! But then I remember that Solomon was very wise and the ancients called this book part of the wisdom literature. So maybe I should think more deeply. Prosperity can bring ‘joy’ but in the long term what does wealth mean? The phrase ‘after him’ – does it refer to who will get what you leave behind or what do you have to face after death? Why does he use ‘overly’ with both righteousness and wickedness? Is he advising against self-righteousness? Talking about wickedness, does he use the word ‘fool’ in the sense of ‘one who forgets God’? He touches on ‘generosity’, on being oversensitive of people who ‘curse’ you. Does curse mean ‘criticize’?
His final punch line is ‘I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?‘ There is still much more to learn, but knowledge isn’t the same as wisdom! Settling for the froth on the surface of life, I think he is saying is for the foolish. Face up to what life is really about!
Prayer: Thank You for the richness of life. Please help me to live it to the full as You intended!
As I read it! 