Ecclesiastes

Chapter 7

1 A good name8034 is better2896 than precious2896 ointment;4480 8081 and the day3117 of death4194 than the day4480 3117 of one's birth.3205

2 It is better2896 to go1980 to413 the house1004 of mourning,60 than to go4480 1980 to413 the house1004 of feasting:4960 for834 that1931 is the end5490 of all3605 men;120 and the living2416 will lay5414 it to413 his heart.3820

3 Sorrow3708 is better2896 than laughter:4480 7814 for3588 by the sadness7455 of the countenance6440 the heart3820 is made better.3190

4 The heart3820 of the wise2450 is in the house1004 of mourning;60 but the heart3820 of fools3684 is in the house1004 of mirth.8057

5 It is better2896 to hear8085 the rebuke1606 of the wise,2450 than for a man4480 376 to hear8085 the song7892 of fools.3684

6 For3588 as the crackling6963 of thorns5518 under8478 a pot,5518 so3651 is the laughter7814 of the fool:3684 this2088 also1571 is vanity.1892

7 Surely3588 oppression6233 maketh a wise man2450 mad;1984 and a gift4979 destroyeth6 853 the heart.3820

8 Better2896 is the end319 of a thing1697 than the beginning4480 7225 thereof: and the patient750 in spirit7307 is better2896 than the proud4480 1362 in spirit.7307

9 Be not408 hasty926 in thy spirit7307 to be angry:3707 for3588 anger3708 resteth5117 in the bosom2436 of fools.3684

10 Say559 not408 thou, What4100 is1961 the cause that the former days7945 3117 7223 were1961 better2896 than these?4480 428 for3588 thou dost not3808 inquire7592 wisely4480 2451 concerning5921 this.2088

11 Wisdom2451 is good2896 with5973 an inheritance:5159 and by it there is profit3148 to them that see7200 the sun.8121

12 For3588 wisdom2451 is a defense,6738 and money3701 is a defense:6738 but the excellency3504 of knowledge1847 is, that wisdom2451 giveth life2421 to them that have1167 it.

13 Consider7200 853 the work4639 of God:430 for3588 who4310 can3201 make that straight,8626 853 which834 he hath made crooked?5791

14 In the day3117 of prosperity2896 be1961 joyful,2896 but in the day3117 of adversity7451 consider:7200 God430 also1571 hath set6213 853 the one2088 over against5980 the other,2088 to5921 the end1700 that man120 should find4672 nothing7945 3808 3972 after310 him.

15 853 All3605 things have I seen7200 in the days3117 of my vanity:1892 there is3426 a just6662 man that perisheth6 in his righteousness,6664 and there is3426 a wicked7563 man that prolongeth748 his life in his wickedness.7451

16 Be1961 not408 righteous6662 over much;7235 neither408 make thyself over wise:2449 3148 why4100 shouldest thou destroy thyself?8074

17 Be not408 over much7235 wicked,7561 neither408 be1961 thou foolish:5530 why4100 shouldest thou die4191 before3808 thy time?6256

18 It is good2896 that834 thou shouldest take hold270 of this;2088 yea, also1571 from this4480 2088 withdraw5117 not408 853 thine hand:3027 for3588 he that feareth3373 God430 shall come forth3318 853 of them all.3605

19 Wisdom2451 strengtheneth5810 the wise2450 more than ten4480 6235 mighty7989 men which834 are1961 in the city.5892

20 For3588 there is not369 a just6662 man120 upon earth,776 that834 doeth6213 good,2896 and sinneth2398 not.3808

21 Also1571 take5414 no408 heed3820 unto all3605 words1697 that834 are spoken;1696 lest834 3808 thou hear8085 853 thy servant5650 curse7043 thee:

22 For3588 oftentimes7227 6471 also1571 thine own heart3820 knoweth3045 that834 thou thyself859 likewise1571 hast cursed7043 others.312

23 All3605 this2090 have I proved5254 by wisdom:2451 I said,559 I will be wise;2449 but it1931 was far7350 from4480 me.

24 That which is4100 7945 1961 far off,7350 and exceeding deep,6013 6013 who4310 can find it out?4672

25 I589 applied5437 mine heart3820 to know,3045 and to search,8446 and to seek out1245 wisdom,2451 and the reason2808 of things, and to know3045 the wickedness7562 of folly,3689 even of foolishness5531 and madness: 1947

26 And I589 find4672 more bitter4751 than death4480 4194 853 the woman,802 whose834 1931 heart3820 is snares4685 and nets,2764 and her hands3027 as bands:612 whoso pleaseth2896 6440 God430 shall escape4422 from4480 her; but the sinner2398 shall be taken3920 by her.

27 Behold,7200 this2088 have I found,4672 saith559 the preacher,6953 counting one259 by one,259 to find out4672 the account: 2808

28 Which834 yet5750 my soul5315 seeketh,1245 but I find4672 not:3808 one259 man120 among a thousand4480 505 have I found;4672 but a woman802 among all3605 those428 have I not3808 found.4672

29 Lo,7200 this2088 only905 have I found,4672 that834 God430 hath made6213 853 man120 upright;3477 but they1992 have sought out1245 many7227 inventions.2810