Ecclesiastes 7

¹What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun?

²A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

³It 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.

⁴Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.

⁵The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.

⁶It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.

⁷For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.

⁸Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.

⁹Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.

¹⁰Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.

¹¹Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.

¹²Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.

¹³For 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.

¹⁴Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.

¹⁵In 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.

¹⁶These 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.

¹⁷Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

¹⁸Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

¹⁹It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.

²⁰Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.

²¹For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.

²²But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.

²³For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.

²⁴I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,

²⁵Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?

²⁶I 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:

²⁷And 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.

²⁸Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,

²⁹Which 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.

³⁰Only 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?

Ecclesiastes 7

¹A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

²It 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.

³Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

⁵It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

⁶For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

⁷Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

⁸Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

⁹Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

¹⁰Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

¹¹Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

¹²For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

¹³Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

¹⁴In 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.

¹⁵All 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.

¹⁶Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

¹⁷Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸It 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.

¹⁹Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

²⁰For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

²¹Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

²²For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

²³All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

²⁴That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

²⁵I 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:

²⁶And 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.

²⁷Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

²⁸Which 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.

²⁹Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.