Ecclesiastes 8:1
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
Solomon, the son of David and king in Jerusalem, wrote after his unsatisfying experience with wealth and luxury and idolatry when his heart was led away by his many wives. What he presents is the emptiness of human life and the complete uselessness of all human pursuits apart from God. A person's wisdom makes the face shine and transforms its sternness or boldness, like the globe of a lamp letting the light through, so that wisdom visibly brightens the countenance. The wisdom that does this begins with reverent fear of the Lord.
Grace within changes a person's appearance and the face of a converted person reflects divine power at work inside, while sin, anger, vice, and ignorance bring ugliness and shame. Shining means living as blameless and harmless children of God amid a crooked and perverse nation, shining as lights in the world by holding forth the word of life, since the words Christ speaks are spirit and life. A person becomes a beautiful lamp and can know when shining by praying to God, reading the Bible, and doing the word rather than only hearing it, letting light shine before others with nothing put in the way. Inner peace and a meek and quiet spirit are a truer beauty than outward adornment.