Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT)
29 But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.

Through Ecclesiastes chapter 7 Solomon has defined things to do in life that show wisdom. For instance he points out the person who thinks about death, its meaning, its purpose, and the inevitability of surrendering to death is better off than the person who foolishly goes through life thinking of only having a good time. Solomon also points out these are those who are just wiser than others, just like there are those who are strong while some are weak. Then he summarizes his thoughts at the end of the chapter and says, “But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

The Hebrew word used for virtuous is yashar, which means to be straight, upright, correct, and right. It is a person who follows a straight path, they are level, just, straightforward, proper and pleasing to others. Proverbs tells us “The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.” As Isaiah spoke to the rebellious people of Judah he said, “Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions. They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’” Those trying to corrupt were enticing the people to walk a crooked path and not stay on the one that was straight and narrow. God made us to be virtuous people. He made us to walk the straight and narrow path. Unfortunately the world calls us from that path and we find the path begins to wear crooked as we repeat each faulty step. Pray God would make you a person of virtue and keep you on the straight path of wisdom.