For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Parallel translations
- WEB For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
- BSB For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps its possessors alive.
- NLT Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wisdom shelters as money shelters, but wisdom's advantage is that it preserves the life of its possessor. It matters because wisdom protects the soul in ways wealth never can.
Overview
The Preacher compares wisdom and money as forms of protection, then exalts wisdom for giving life to those who have it. While money guards against many troubles, wisdom guards the person himself. This life-preserving wisdom finds its fullness in Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom (Colossians 2:3) and through whom comes eternal life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Prov 8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
- Prov 3:18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
- Prov 2:7He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
- Prov 18:10–11The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
- Prov 11:4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
- Judg 9:15And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
- John 17:3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
- John 12:50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
- Deut 32:47For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
- Phil 3:8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
- Prov 2:11Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
- Ps 57:1Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
- Isa 32:2And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
- Job 1:10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
- Prov 9:11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
- Isa 33:6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
- Deut 30:19–20I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
- Isa 30:2That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
- Prov 14:20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
- Job 22:21–25Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 7:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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