Ecclesiastes 7:12
New International Version
Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.

New Living Translation
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.

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.

Berean Standard Bible
For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

King James Bible
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.

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 American Standard Bible
For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps its possessors alive.

NASB 1995
For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

NASB 1977
For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

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.

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.

Christian Standard Bible
because wisdom is protection as silver is protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
because wisdom is protection as money is protection, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because the shade of wisdom is like the shade of money, and the profit of knowledge is that wisdom will save its owner

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

Contemporary English Version
Wisdom will protect you just like money; knowledge with good sense will lead you to life.

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wisdom protects us just as money protects us, but the advantage of wisdom is that it gives life to those who have it.

Good News Translation
and will give you as much security as money can. Wisdom keeps you safe--this is the advantage of knowledge.

International Standard Version
Indeed, wisdom gives protection, just like money does, but it's better to know that wisdom gives life, to those who have mastered it.

JPS Tanakh 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.

Literal Standard Version
For wisdom [is] a defense, money [is] a defense, | And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom [is], | She revives her possessors.

Majority Standard Bible
For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

New American Bible
For the protection of wisdom is as the protection of money; and knowledge is profitable because wisdom gives life to those who possess it.

NET Bible
For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

New Revised Standard Version
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.

New Heart 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.

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.

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.

Young's Literal Translation
For wisdom is a defense, money is a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom is, She reviveth her possessors.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Value of Wisdom
11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun. 12For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. 13Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?…

Cross References
Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

Proverbs 8:35
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.

Ecclesiastes 2:13
And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:

Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

Ecclesiastes 9:16
And I said, "Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded."

Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 10:19
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.


Treasury of Scripture

For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it.

wisdom

Job 1:10
Hast 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.

Job 22:21-15
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee…

Proverbs 2:7,11
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly…

a defence

Judges 9:15
And 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.

Psalm 57:1
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be 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.

Isaiah 30:2
That 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!

the excellency

Deuteronomy 30:19,20
I 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: …

Deuteronomy 32:47
For 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.

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Jump to Previous
Advantage Danger Defence Defense Excellence Excellency Gives Keeps Life Maketh Money Possessor Possessors Preserves Preserveth Protection Reviveth Shelter Value Wisdom
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Advantage Danger Defence Defense Excellence Excellency Gives Keeps Life Maketh Money Possessor Possessors Preserves Preserveth Protection Reviveth Shelter Value Wisdom
Ecclesiastes 7
1. remedies against vanity are, a good name
2. mortification
7. patience
11. wisdom
23. The difficulty of wisdom














(12) A defence.--Literally, a shadow (Psalm 91:1; Psalm 121:5, &c). This verse harmonises with the interpretation of the preceding verse, which we prefer. "Wisdom and riches alike confer protection, but the pre-eminence of wisdom is," &c.

Verse 12. - For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense; literally, in the shade is wisdom, in the shade is money; Septuagint, Ὅτι ἐν σκιᾷ αὐτῆς ἡ σοφία ὡς σκιὰ ἀργυρίου, "For in its shadow wisdom is as the shadow of money." Symmachus has, Σκέπει σοφία ὡς σκέπει τὸ ἀργύριον, "Wisdom shelters as money shelters." The Vulgate explains the obscure text by paraphrasing, Sieur enirn protegit sapientia, sic protegit petunia. Shadow, in Oriental phrase, is equivalent to protection (see Numbers 14:9; Psalm 17:5; Lamentations 4:20). Wisdom as well as money is a shield and defense to men. As it is said in one passage (Proverbs 13:8) that riches are the ransom of a man's life, so in another (Ecclesiastes 9:15) we are told how wisdom delivered a city from destruction. The literal translation given above implies that he who has wisdom and he who has money rest under a safe protection, are secure from material evil. In this respect they are alike, and have analogous claims to man's regard. But the excellency - profit, or advantage - of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. "Knowledge" (daath) and "wisdom" (chokmah) are practically here identical, the terms being varied for the sake of poetic parallelism. The Revised Version, following Delitzsch and others, renders, Wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it; i.e. secures him from passions and excesses which tend to shorten life. This seems to be scarcely an adequate ground for the noteworthy advantage which wisdom is said to possess. The Septuagint gives, Καὶ περίσσεια γνώσεως τῆς σοφίας ζωοποιήσει τόν παρ αὐτῆς "And the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will quicken him that hath it." Something more than the mere animal life is signified, a climax to the "defense" mentioned in the preceding clause - the higher, spiritual life which man has from God. Wisdom in the highest sense, that is, practical piety and religion, is "a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, and happy is every one that retaineth her" (Proverbs 3:18), where it is implied that wisdom restores to man the gift which he lost at the Fall (camp. also Proverbs 8:35). The Septuagint expression ζωοποιήσει recalls the words of Christ, "As the Father raiseth the dead and quickeneth (ζωοποιεῖ) them, even so the Son also quickeneth whom he will;" "It is the Spirit that quickeneth (τὸ ζωοποιοῦν)" (John 5:21; John 6:63). Koheleth attributes that power to wisdom which the more definite teaching of Christianity assigns to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Some would explain, "fortifies or vivifies the heart," i.e. imparts new life and strength to meet every fortune. The Vulgate rendering is far astray from the text, and does not accurately convey the sense of the passage, running thus: Hoe autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia: quod vitam tribuunt possessori sue, "But this more have learning and wisdom, that they give life to the possessor of them."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

wisdom,
הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה (ha·ḥā·ḵə·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451: Wisdom

like money,
הַכָּ֑סֶף (hak·kā·sep̄)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

[is] a shelter,
בְּצֵ֣ל (bə·ṣêl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6738: A shadow

and the advantage
וְיִתְר֣וֹן (wə·yiṯ·rō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3504: Preeminence, gain

of knowledge
דַּ֔עַת (da·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge

is that wisdom
הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה (ha·ḥā·ḵə·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451: Wisdom

preserves the life
תְּחַיֶּ֥ה (tə·ḥay·yeh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

of its owner.
בְעָלֶֽיהָ׃ (ḇə·‘ā·le·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defense even as (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 7:11
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