Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
A good name is better than precious oil, and the day of death, better than the day of one's birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; inasmuch as that is the end of all men: and let the living lay it to his heart.
3 Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
Better is vexation than laughing; for through the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of joy.
5 It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than that a man should hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. Also this is vanity.
7 Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
For [exercising] oppression maketh a wise man mad; and bribery corrupteth the heart.
8 Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
Be not rash in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in bosom of fools.
10 Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.
Thou must not say, How was it that the former days were better than these? for it is not out of wisdom that thou askest concerning this.
11 Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.
Wisdom is better than an inheritance, yea, preferable for those that see the sun;
12 For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them.
For under the shadow of wisdom [a man is equally well as] under the shadow of money; but the superior excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to him that possesseth it.
13 Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.
Consider [then] the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
14 In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.
On the day of prosperity be happy, but on the day of adversity look on: also this hath God made in equal measure with the other, to the end that man should not find the least to censure him.
15 These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is many a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is many a wicked man that liveth long in his wickedness.—
16 Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.
Be not righteous over much; neither show thyself over wise: why wouldst thou destroy thyself?
17 Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.
Be not wicked over much, and be no fool: why wouldst thou die before thy time?
18 It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
It is good that thou shouldst take hold of that, and that also from this thou withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God will come forth out of them all.
19 Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.
Wisdom giveth more strength to the wise than ten rulers which were in the city.
20 For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
For no man is so righteous upon earth, that he should do always good, and never sin.—
21 But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.
Also take no heed unto all the words that are spoken: lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.
22 For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.
For oftentimes also doth thy own heart know that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.—
23 I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?
Far is what formerly was so, and what was deep remaineth deep: who can find it out?
25 I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:
Then I turned myself about together with my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and experience, and to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness.
26 And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter’s snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.
And I find as more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bonds: he that is deemed good before God will escape from her; but the sinner will be caught by her.
27 Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,
Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, [adding] one to the other, to find experience,
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found.
What my soul constantly sought, but I found it not; one man among a thousand did I find; but a woman among all these did I not find.
29 Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise man? and who hath known the resolution of the word?
Lo, this only did I find, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought for many [sinful] devices.
