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Young's Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 7:12

For wisdom [is] a defense, money [is] a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom [is], She reviveth her possessors.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Money;   Riches;   Wisdom;   The Topic Concordance - Defense;   Life;   Wealth;   Wisdom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Money;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wisdom literature;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Future State;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;   Poetry;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher;   Excellency;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Aḥa B. Jacob;   Ḳara, Joseph ben Simeon;   Meïr;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for September 3;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
because wisdom is protection as silver is protection;but the advantage of knowledgeis that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
Hebrew Names Version
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.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
New American Standard Bible
For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps its possessors alive.
New Century Version
Wisdom is like money: they both help. But wisdom is better, because it can save whoever has it.
Amplified Bible
For wisdom is a protection even as money is a protection, But the [excellent] advantage of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the lives of its possessors.
World English Bible
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For man shall rest in the shadowe of wisedome, and in the shadowe of siluer: but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessers thereof.
Legacy Standard Bible
For wisdom is a shadow of protection as money is a shadow of protection,And the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its masters.
Berean Standard Bible
For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
Contemporary English Version
Wisdom will protect you just like money; knowledge with good sense will lead you to life.
Complete Jewish Bible
For wisdom is a shelter, and money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps the one who has it alive.
Darby Translation
For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
Easy-to-Read Version
Wisdom and money can protect you. But knowledge gained through wisdom is even better—it can save your life.
George Lamsa Translation
For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to him who possesses it.
Good News Translation
and will give you as much security as money can. Wisdom keeps you safe—this is the advantage of knowledge.
Lexham English Bible
For wisdom offers protection like money offers protection. But knowledge has an advantage—wisdom restores life to its possessor.
Literal Translation
For wisdom is in a shadow; and silver is in a shadow; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For wy?dome defendeth as well as moneye, and the excellent knowlege and wy?dome geueth life vnto him that hath it in possession.
American Standard Version
For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
Bible in Basic English
Wisdom keeps a man from danger even as money does; but the value of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to its owner.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
King James Version (1611)
For wisedome is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellencie of knowledge is, that wisedome giueth life to them that haue it.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For wysdome defendeth aswell as money, and the excellent knowledge & wysdome geueth lyfe vnto hym that hath it in possession.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun.
English Revised Version
For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For as wisdom defendith, so money defendith; but lernyng and wisdom hath this more, that tho yyuen lijf to `her weldere.
Update Bible Version
For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserves the life of him that has it.
Webster's Bible Translation
For wisdom [is] a defense, [and] money [is] a defense: but the excellence of knowledge [is], [that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
New English Translation
For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
New King James Version
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.
New Living Translation
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.
New Life Bible
For wisdom keeps one from danger just as money keeps one from danger. But the good thing about much learning is that wisdom keeps alive those who have it.
New Revised Standard
For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, - but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-13) For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them.
Revised Standard Version
For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

Contextual Overview

11 Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance, And an advantage [it is] to those beholding the sun. 12 For wisdom [is] a defense, money [is] a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom [is], She reviveth her possessors. 13 See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked? 14 In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything after him. 15 The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging [himself] in his wrong. 16 Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate? 17 Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time? 18 [It is] good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all. 19 The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city. 20 Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

wisdom: Job 1:10, Job 22:21-25, Proverbs 2:7, Proverbs 2:11, Proverbs 14:20, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 18:11, Isaiah 33:6

a defence: Heb. a shadow, Judges 9:15, Psalms 57:1, Isaiah 30:2, Isaiah 32:2

the excellency: Deuteronomy 30:19, Deuteronomy 30:20, Deuteronomy 32:47, Proverbs 3:18, Proverbs 8:35, Proverbs 9:11, Proverbs 11:4, John 12:50, John 17:3, Philippians 3:8

Reciprocal: Proverbs 4:7 - Wisdom is Proverbs 4:13 - she Proverbs 8:19 - General Proverbs 10:15 - rich Proverbs 14:24 - crown Proverbs 16:16 - General Ecclesiastes 1:15 - crooked Ecclesiastes 2:13 - I saw Ecclesiastes 10:19 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 7:4
for after other seven days I am sending rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and have wiped away all the substance that I have made from off the face of the ground.'
Genesis 7:17
And the deluge is forty days on the earth, and the waters multiply, and lift up the ark, and it is raised up from off the earth;
Exodus 24:18
and Moses goeth into the midst of the cloud, and goeth up unto the mount, and Moses is on the mount forty days and forty nights.
Deuteronomy 9:9
`In my going up into the mount to receive the tables of stone (tables of the covenant which Jehovah hath made with you), and I abide in the mount forty days and forty nights; bread I have not eaten, and water I have not drunk;
Deuteronomy 9:18
and I throw myself before Jehovah, as at first, forty days and forty nights; bread I have not eaten, and water I have not drunk, because of all your sins which ye have sinned, by doing the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, to make Him angry.
Deuteronomy 10:10
`And I -- I have stood in the mount, as the former days, forty days and forty nights, and Jehovah hearkeneth unto me also at that time; Jehovah hath not willed to destroy thee.
1 Kings 19:8
and he riseth, and eateth, and drinketh, and goeth in the power of that food forty days and forty nights, unto the mount of God -- Horeb.
Matthew 4:2
and having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he did hunger.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence,.... Or, a "shadow" of refreshment and protection, under which men sit with pleasure and safety; a man by his wisdom, and so by his money, is able to defend himself against the injuries and oppressions of others, and especially when both meet in one and the same man. Jarchi renders and interprets it,

"he that is in the shadow of wisdom is in the shadow of money, for wisdom is the cause why riches come;''

and so the Targum,

"as a man is hid in the shadow of wisdom, so he is hid in the shadow of money, when he does alms with it;''

compare with this Luke 16:9; see Ecclesiastes 7:19. Theognis o has a saying much like this,

"riches and wisdom are always inexpugnable to mortals;''

but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it; or, "the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom giveth life" p, c. not of natural wisdom, or the knowledge of natural and civil things, the vanity of this is exposed, before by the wise man but the knowledge of God in Christ; the knowledge of Christ, who is the Wisdom of God; and of the Gospel, and of all divine and spiritual things: this is a superior excellency to riches, which often expose a man's life to danger, cannot preserve him from a corporeal death, much less from an eternal one. When this is the excellency of spiritual knowledge, that spiritual life goes along with it; such as are spiritually enlightened are spiritually quickened; live by faith on Christ, whom they know; and, through the knowledge of him, have all things pertaining to life and godliness, and have both a right and meetness for eternal life; yea, this knowledge is life eternal,

John 17:3; see 2 Peter 1:3; and this is the pure gift of Wisdom, or of Christ, and not owing to the merit of men, or works done in obedience to the law, which cannot give this life; see John 17:2 Romans 6:23.

o Sententiae, v. 1153. p ויתרון דעת החכמה תחיה "et praestantia scientiae sapientiae vivificabit", Montanus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wisdom is a defense ... - See the margin and Psalms 121:5, i. e., He who is defended from adversity by his wisdom is in as good a position as he who is defended by his riches.

Excellency - literally, Profit.

Giveth life to - literally, “Causes to live,” “makes alive” Proverbs 3:18; the deeper meaning of which is elicited by comparing these words with John 6:63; Matthew 4:4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 7:12. Wisdom is a defence — To whom Solomon answers: All true wisdom is most undoubtedly a great advantage to men in all circumstances; and money is also of great use: but it cannot be compared to wisdom. Knowledge of Divine and human things is a great blessing. Money is the means of supporting our animal life: but wisdom - the religion of the true God - gives life to them that have it. Money cannot procure the favour of God, nor give life to the soul.


 
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