Ecclesiastes - Chapter 7 | American Standard Version

  • 1. A {cf15i good} name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
  • 2. 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 laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
  • 4. 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 hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
  • 6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
  • 7. Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
  • 8. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; {cf15i and} the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
  • 9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
  • 10. 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 is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
  • 12. For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
  • 13. Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
  • 14. In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything {cf15i that shall be} after him.
  • 15. All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth {cf15i his life} in his evil-doing.
  • 16. Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
  • 17. Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
  • 18. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
  • 19. Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
  • 20. Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
  • 21. Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
  • 22. for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
  • 23. All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
  • 24. That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
  • 25. I turned about, and my heart {cf15i was set} to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason {cf15i of things}, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
  • 26. And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, {cf15i and} whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
  • 27. Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, {cf15i laying} one thing to another, to find out the account;
  • 28. which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
  • 29. Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
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