Wisdom and folly

Back to Bible Topic from Genesis to Revelation

Ec 2:12: And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
Ec 2:13: Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Ec 2:14: The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Ec 2:15: Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Ec 2:16: For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Ec 2:17: Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ec 2:18: Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Ec 2:19: And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Ec 2:20: Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Ec 2:21: For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Ec 2:22: For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Ec 2:23: For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Ec 10:1: Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Ec 10:2: A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Ec 10:3: Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Ec 10:4: If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Ec 10:5: There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Ec 10:6: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Ec 10:7: I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Ec 10:8: He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Ec 10:9: Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
Ec 10:10: If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Ec 10:11: Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Ec 10:12: The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Ec 10:13: The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Ec 10:14: A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Ec 10:15: The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Ec 10:16: Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Ec 10:17: Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Ec 10:18: By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Ec 10:19: A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Ec 10:20: Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.