Ecclesiastes 7
1 Better [is] a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.
A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2 Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth [it] unto his heart.
[It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.
3 Better [is] sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.
Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise [is] in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.
The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.
5 Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than [for] a man to hear a song of fools,
[It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the noise of thorns under the pot, So [is] the laughter of a fool, even this [is] vanity.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.
7 Surely oppression maketh the wise mad, And a gift destroyeth the heart.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Better [is] the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better [is] the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit.
Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, For anger in the bosom of fools resteth.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not thou, 'What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.
Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance, And an advantage [it is] to those beholding the sun.
Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom [is] a defense, money [is] a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom [is], She reviveth her possessors.
For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?
Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything after him.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15 The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging [himself] in his wrong.
All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickedness.
16 Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time?
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 [It is] good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.
[It is] good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19 The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city.
20 Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.
For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee.
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22 For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, 'I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.
24 Far off [is] that which hath been, and deep, deep, who doth find it?
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the madness.
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:
26 And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart [is] nets and snares, her hands [are] bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:
28 (that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found.
Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they — they have sought out many devices.
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
