Ecclesiastes 7:14 (GNV)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

Ecclesiastes 7:12 Say not thou, Why is it that the former dayes were better then these? for thou doest not enquire wisely of this thing.

Ecclesiastes 7:13 Wisedome is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sunne.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 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.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 Beholde the worke of God: for who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?

Ecclesiastes 7:16 In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man shoulde finde nothing after him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "shall", "rest", "shadowe", "wisedome", "siluer", "excellencie", and "knowledge". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "shall" and "rest", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "Wisedome is good with an inheritance and..." into verse 15's "Beholde the worke of God for who...", so "shall" and "rest" belong inside that flow. In Ecclesiastes context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "shall" and "rest" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.