Ecc 7:19-20 | NETfull | STEP | Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

Ecclesiastes 7:19-20

Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous

19 Wisdom gives a wise person more protection ^{▼▼ Heb “gives strength.”}
than ten rulers in a city.
20 For ^{▼▼ The introductory particle כִּי (ki) is rendered variously: “for” (KJV); “indeed” (NASB); not translated (NIV); “for” (NJPS). The particle functions in an explanatory sense, explaining the need for wisdom in v. 19. Righteousness alone cannot always protect a person from calamity (7:15–16); therefore, something additional, such as wisdom, is needed. The need for wisdom as protection from calamity is particularly evident in the light of the fact that no one is truly righteous (7:19–20).} there is not one truly ^{▼▼ The term “truly” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity. Qoheleth does not deny the existence of some people who are relatively righteous.} righteous person on the earth
who continually does good and never sins.