Ecclesiastes - Chapter 7 | King James Version (KJV)

  • 1. A good name {cf15I is} better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
  • 2. {cf15I It is} better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that {cf15I is} the end of all men; and the living will lay {cf15I it} to his heart.
  • 3. Sorrow {cf15I is} better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
  • 4. The heart of the wise {cf15I is} in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools {cf15I is} in the house of mirth.
  • 5. {cf15I 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 {cf15I is} the laughter of the fool: this also {cf15I is} vanity.
  • 7. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
  • 8. Better {cf15I is} the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: {cf15I and} the patient in spirit {cf15I 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 {cf15I the cause} that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
  • 11. Wisdom {cf15I is} good with an inheritance: and {cf15I by it there is} profit to them that see the sun.
  • 12. For wisdom {cf15I is} a defence, {cf15I and} money {cf15I is} a defence: but the excellency of knowledge {cf15I is, that} wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
  • 13. Consider the work of God: for who can make {cf15I that} straight, which he hath made crooked?
  • 14. 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. All {cf15I things} have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just {cf15I man} that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked {cf15I man} that prolongeth {cf15I his life} in his wickedness.
  • 16. Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
  • 17. Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
  • 18. {cf15I 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. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty {cf15I men} which are in the city.
  • 20. For {cf15I there is} not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
  • 21. Also take no 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 by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it {cf15I was} far from me.
  • 24. That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
  • 25. I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason {cf15I of things}, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness {cf15I and} madness:
  • 26. And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart {cf15I is} snares and nets, {cf15I and} her hands {cf15I as} 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 counting} one by one, to find out the account:
  • 28. 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. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
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