Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than oil of great price, 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 It is better to go to the house of weeping, than to go to the house of feasting; because that is the end of every man, and the living will take it to their hearts.

[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 Sorrow is better than joy; when the face is sad the mind gets better.

Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 The hearts of the wise are in the house of weeping; but the hearts of the foolish are in the house of joy.

The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.

5 It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish.

[It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 Like the cracking of thorns under a pot, so is the laugh of a foolish man; and this again is to no purpose.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.

7 The wise are troubled by the ways of the cruel, and the giving of money is the destruction of the heart.

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 The end of a thing is better than its start, and a gentle spirit is better than pride.

Better [is] the end of a thing than its beginning: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

9 Be not quick to let your spirit be angry; because wrath is in the heart of the foolish.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 Say not, Why were the days which have gone by better than these? Such a question comes not from wisdom.

Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom together with a heritage is good, and a profit to those who see the sun.

Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.

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

For wisdom [is] a defense, [and] money [is] a defense: but the excellence of knowledge [is], [that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

13 Give thought to the work of God. Who will make straight what he has made bent?

Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?

14 In the day of wealth have joy, but in the day of evil take thought: God has put the one against the other, so that man may not be certain what will be 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 These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing.

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 given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?

17 Be not evil overmuch, and be not foolish. Why come to your end before your time?

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldst thou die before thy time?

18 It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two.

[It is] good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all.

19 Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a town.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] who are in the city.

20 There is no man on earth of such righteousness that he does good and is free from sin all his days.

For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21 Do not give ear to all the words which men say, for fear of hearing the curses of your servant.

Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

22 Your heart has knowledge how frequently others have been cursed by you.

For often also thy own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was 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 true existence, and very deep; who may have knowledge of it?

That which is far off, and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?

25 I gave my mind to knowledge and to searching for wisdom and the reason of things, and to the discovery that sin is foolish, and that to be foolish is to be without one's senses.

I applied my 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 saw a thing more bitter than death, even the woman whose heart is full of tricks and nets, and whose hands are as bands. He with whom God is pleased will get free from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.

And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoever pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

27 Look! this I have seen, said the Preacher, taking one thing after another to get the true account,

Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:

28 For which my soul is still searching, but I have it not; one man among a thousand have I seen; but a woman among all these I have not seen.

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 This only have I seen, that God made men upright, but they have been searching out all sorts of inventions.

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.