Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven, Life Giving Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 7:11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun. [12] For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

The focus on this passage is the acquisition of wisdom. The inheritor is blessed for his inheritance, but more so if he possesses the wisdom to use it discreetly and prudently. Such wisdom is profitable, the preacher relates, to those that see the sun. Referencing the sun, the preacher is referring to daily, common life wisdom. It is the prudence of someone self-controlled, who is patient and thoughtful, considering outcomes and weighing choice and consequence.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven, Longing For Yesterday

Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

I know that I have fallen victim to this sort of ignorance. We pine for former days that were better than the ones we currently suffer through. Whether this is a case of reflecting through rose colored glasses on days of yore, prior to our own, or looking back at earlier times in our own lives when things were simpler or better (from our current line of thought), neither is according to wisdom.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven, Patience Is Its Own Reward

Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. [9] Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

At first verse 8 seems a little disconnected. At first glance the preacher is conjoining two different thoughts. But in fact it is just two different ways of looking at the same matter. The conclusion of something is better than its inception, says he. Why? Well, from personal experience as an author, while beginning a novel is exciting with boundless ideas whirling around one’s head, finishing the novel is infinitely better. You’ve brought your story and characters to the conclusion you envisioned for them; you’ve navigated your plot and character developments, and settled them into their happily ever after.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven, Subjugating Reason

Ecclesiastes 7:7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, and a bribe debases the heart.

The LXX renders the verse, “For oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.” The Dead Sea Scrolls translate it, “Extortion makes the wise foolish, and a bribe perverts the heart.” The Tanakh says, “For cheating [emendation yields “riches”] may rob the wise man of reason and destroy the prudence of the cautious.”

Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven, Rebuking Folly

Ecclesiastes 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. [6] For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

Continuing to another contrast and comparison, the preacher evaluates the rebuke of the wise and the song of fools. Oxford defines rebuke as "criticize or reprimand someone sharply.” Why is rebuke better? The context suggests someone slipped into error, and someone else, wanting to address and correct the error, brought it to the fore.