How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #7
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? Wisdom makes one's face shine, and the hardness of one's countenance is changed. (NRSV 8:1)
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. (KJV 8:1)
Before, Ecclesiastes said that wisdom could make your face sad, while your heart was secretly happy. Now, he's saying that it can make your face less hard and make it shine. But does this mean that the sadness goes away too? Or is that part of the glow and the softness that comes over your face?
Quote #8
When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how one's eyes see sleep neither day nor night, then I saw all the work of God, that no one can find out what is happening under the sun. However much they may toil in seeking, they will not find it out; even though those who are wise claim to know, they cannot find it out. (NRSV 8:16-17)
When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. (KJV 8:16-17)
Here, Ecclesiastes is making the same point he made earlier: you can't know everything, and it's wise not to try. Some things need to be left in mystery.
Quote #9
I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. So I said, "Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded." (NRSV 9:13-16)
This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. (KJV 9:13-16)
This little tale illustrates a lot of the things Ecclesiastes has been saying about wisdom. It can help save you and sustain you and help you to survive—but it's not necessarily going to improve your reputation or make you wealthy. Worldly status is completely up in the air, and wisdom can't do anything about it.