The Daily Audio Bible

A Little Foolishness

10 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor. ² A wise man’s heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool’s heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation].^{(A) 3} Even when a fool walks along the road, his [common] sense and good judgment fail him and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. ⁴ If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post [showing resistance], because composure and calmness prevent great offenses.

⁵ There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler— ⁶ folly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places. ⁷ I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the ground.

⁸ He who digs a pit [for others] may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a [stone] wall.^{(B) 9} He who quarries stones may be hurt with them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.^{(C) 10} If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort]. ¹¹ If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer. ¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him; ¹³ the beginning of ^[a]his talking is foolishness and the end of his talk is wicked madness. ¹⁴ Yet the fool multiplies words, though no man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after he is gone? ¹⁵ The labor of a fool so wearies him [because he is ignorant] that he does not even know how to go to a city. ¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and when your [incompetent] officials and princes feast in the morning. ¹⁷ Blessed [prosperous and admired] are you, O land, when your king is a man of noble birth, and your princes and officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.^{(D) 18} Through laziness the rafters [of state affairs] decay and the roof sags, and through idleness [the roof of] the house leaks. ¹⁹ The officials make a feast for enjoyment [instead of repairing what is broken], and serve wine to make life merry, and money is the answer to everything. ²⁰ Moreover, do not curse the king, even in your bedroom, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry the sound and a winged creature will make the matter known.^(E)

Cast Your Bread on the Waters

11 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, [be diligently active, make thoughtful decisions], for you will ^[b]find it after many days. ² Give a portion to seven, or even [divide it] to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. ³ If the clouds are full [of rain], they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it lies. ⁴ He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest]. ⁵ Just as you do not know the way and path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

⁶ Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle with your hands in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening planting will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

⁷ The light is sweet and pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. ⁸ Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that is to come will be futility.

⁹ Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant in the days of your young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desires of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things. ¹⁰ Therefore, remove sorrow and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, for childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.^(F)

Remember God in Your Youth

12 Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”;^{(G) 2} before the sun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened [by impaired vision], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears]; ³ in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim; ⁴ when the doors (lips) are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the daughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly. ⁵ Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair) blossoms [white], and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the ^[c]caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and market places.^{(H) 6} Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; ⁷ then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”^(I)

Purpose of the Preacher

⁹ Furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and arranged many proverbs. ¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find delightful words, even to write correctly words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like [prodding] goads, and these collected sayings are [firmly fixed in the mind] like well-driven nails; ^[d]they are given by one Shepherd.^{(J) 12} But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.

¹³ When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. ¹⁴ For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.^(K)

Great Generosity

8 Now, brothers and sisters, we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [awakening in them a longing to contribute]; ² for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity. ³ For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, ⁴ begging us insistently for the privilege of participating in the service for [the support of] the saints [in Jerusalem]. ⁵ Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could]. ⁶ So we urged Titus that, as he began it, he should also complete this gracious work among you as well.

⁷ But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also. ⁸ I am not saying this as a command [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the enthusiasm of others, the sincerity of your love as well. ⁹ For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed). ¹⁰ I give you my opinion in this matter: this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to take action [to help the believers in Jerusalem], but also [the first] to desire to do it. ¹¹ So now finish this, so that your eagerness in desiring it may be equaled by your completion of it, according to your ability. ¹² For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For it is not [intended] that others be relieved [of their responsibility] and that you be ^[a]burdened [unfairly], but ^[b]that there be equality [in sharing the burden]— ¹⁴ at this present time your surplus [over necessities] is going to supply their need, so that [at some other time] their surplus may be given to supply your need, that there may be equality; ¹⁵ as it is written [in Scripture], “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not lack.”^(A)

The Folly of Trusting in Riches.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.