Ecclesiastes 7
1. A good name is better than precious ointment; 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 better * .
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 oppression maketh a wise man mad * ; and a gift destroyeth * the heart.
8. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: 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 enquire * wisely concerning this.
11. Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see * the sun.
12. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life * to them that have 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,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 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.
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. 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 men which are in the city.
20. For 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 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 of things, and to know * the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
26. And 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.
27. Behold * , this have I found * , saith * the preacher, 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.
