⁷ The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.

⁴⁴ The kingdom of heaven is like a secret store of wealth in a field, which a man came across and put back again; and in his joy he goes and gives all he has, to get that field.

⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader searching for beautiful jewels.

⁴⁶ And having come across one jewel of great price, he went and gave all he had in exchange for it.

⁸ Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward,

²⁰ But God said to him, You foolish one, tonight I will take your soul from you, and who then will be the owner of all the things which you have got together?

⁴² Little is needed, or even one thing only: for Mary has taken that good part, which will not be taken away from her.

³⁶ What profit has a man if he gets all the world with the loss of his life?

³⁷ And what would a man give in exchange for his life?

¹⁶ Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is not respected, and his words are not given a hearing.

¹⁷ The words of the wise which come quietly to the ear are noted more than the cry of a ruler among the foolish.

¹⁸ Wisdom is better than instruments of war, but one sinner is the destruction of much good.

¹² Wisdom keeps a man from danger even as money does; but the value of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to its owner.

⁸ It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.

⁴ I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens.

⁵ I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts.

⁶ I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.

⁷ I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me.

⁸ I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men--girls of all sorts to be my brides.

⁹ And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me.

²³ Get for yourself that which is true, and do not let it go for money; get wisdom and teaching and good sense.

⁶ He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.

¹⁰⁴ Through your orders I get wisdom; for this reason I am a hater of every false way.

¹⁶ Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;

¹⁷ For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

¹⁸ Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,

¹⁹ He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.

²⁰ Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.