Qoheleth gives advice that no lifestyle brand will ever print on a candle: go to the funeral, skip the party. The house of mourning beats the house of feasting because death is where wisdom actually lives. He dismantles the prosperity calculus, insisting that nobody can straighten what God has made crooked and nobody knows what tomorrow holds. Sorrow, rebuke, and patience all outrank laughter, flattery, and haste. It is a hard sell in every generation, and Qoheleth does not care.

The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Ecclesiastes 6:10–7:14.

To learn more about Trinity in Edwardsville, visit trinitylutheranministries.org.

What does a man gain from all his toil under the sun? Solomon asked that question three thousand years ago, and it still cuts. Ecclesiastes is the Bible’s most unflinching book about work, wealth, wisdom, and the ache nothing in this life can fill. It is also one of the most pastoral, because the Preacher tells the truth about death, time, and meaning without leaving the reader in despair. Pastor Booe and guest pastors from across the Synod study it verse by verse, following Solomon’s argument to where it finally lands: fear God and keep His commandments.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14

[10] Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. [11] The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? [12] For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

7[1] A good name is better than precious ointment,

and the day of death than the day of birth.

[2] It is better to go to the house of mourning

than to go to the house of feasting,

for this is the end of all mankind,

and the living will lay it to heart.

[3] Sorrow is better than laughter,

for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

[4] The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

[5] It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise

than to hear the song of fools.

[6] For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,

so is the laughter of the fools;

this also is vanity.

[7] Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

[8] Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,

and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

[9] Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,

for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

[10] Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

[11] Wisdom is good with an inheritance,

an advantage to those who see the sun.

[12] 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.

[13] Consider the work of God:

who can make straight what he has made crooked?

[14] In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.