Solomon’s Wisdom and Literary Gifts

²⁹ God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding^(A) as vast as the sand on the seashore. ³⁰ Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,^(B) greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.^{(C) 31} He was wiser than anyone^(D) – wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite,^(E) and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol.^(F) His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations.^(G)

³² Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs,^(H) and his songs numbered 1,005.^{(I) 33} He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. ³⁴ Emissaries of all peoples, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.^(J)

¹⁰ I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied.^{(A) 11} He has made everything appropriate^[a] in its time.^(B) He has also put eternity in their hearts,^[b] but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.^(C)

²⁵ I turned my thoughts to know, explore, and examine wisdom^(A) and an explanation for things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity and folly is madness.

¹⁷ I observed all the work of God and concluded that a person is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a person labours hard to explore it, he cannot find it;^(A) even if a wise person claims to know it, he is unable to discover it.