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.

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

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

6The laughter of the fool is as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and this also (the laughter or prosperity of the fool) is vanity.

7¶ Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart.

8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9Do not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10Never say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11¶ Knowledge is good with an inheritance and is the excellency of those that see the sun.

12For knowledge is a defence, and money is a defence; but wisdom excels in that it gives life to those that have it.

13Consider the work of God; for who can make straight that which he has twisted?

14In the day of good enjoy that which is good, but in the day of adversity open your eyes and learn: God also has made the one (the day of adversity) before 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 perishes for his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his days by his wickedness.

16Do not be too legalistic; neither make thyself over wise in thine own eyes: why should thou destroy thyself?

17Do not be hasty to condemn, neither be thou foolish: why should thou die in the midst of thy labours?

18 It is good that thou should take hold of this; and also from the other not withdraw thy hand; for he that fears God shall come through with everything.

19Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

20For surely there is not a just man upon earth that in doing good does not sin.

21Also do not take to heart all the words that are spoken lest thou hear thy slave speak evil of thee:

22For thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise hast spoken evil of others many times.

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

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

25I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the madness of error;

26and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are bonds; whosoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be held prisoner in her.

27Behold, this I have found, saith the preacher, weighing things one by one to find out the answer,

28which my soul yet seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.

29Behold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions.

Currently Selected:

Ecclesiastes 7: JUB

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International

Learn More About Jubilee Bible

Ecclesiastes 7

Wisdom

1A good name is better than fine perfume,

and the day of death better than the day of birth.

2It is better to go to a house of mourning

than to go to a house of feasting,

for death is the destiny of everyone;

the living should take this to heart.

3Frustration is better than laughter,

because a sad face is good for the heart.

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

5It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person

than to listen to the song of fools.

6Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,

so is the laughter of fools.

This too is meaningless.

7Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

and patience is better than pride.

9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,

for anger resides in the lap of fools.

10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”

For it is not wise to ask such questions.

11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing

and benefits those who see the sun.

12Wisdom is a shelter

as money is a shelter,

but the advantage of knowledge is this:

Wisdom preserves those who have it.

13Consider what God has done:

Who can straighten

what he has made crooked?

14When times are good, be happy;

but when times are bad, consider this:

God has made the one

as well as the other.

Therefore, no one can discover

anything about their future.

15In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,

and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

16Do not be overrighteous,

neither be overwise—

why destroy yourself?

17Do not be overwicked,

and do not be a fool—

why die before your time?

18It is good to grasp the one

and not let go of the other.

Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.#7:18 Or will follow them both

19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful

than ten rulers in a city.

20Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,

no one who does what is right and never sins.

21Do not pay attention to every word people say,

or you may hear your servant cursing you—

22for you know in your heart

that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

“I am determined to be wise”—

but this was beyond me.

24Whatever exists is far off and most profound—

who can discover it?

25So I turned my mind to understand,

to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things

and to understand the stupidity of wickedness

and the madness of folly.

26I find more bitter than death

the woman who is a snare,

whose heart is a trap

and whose hands are chains.

The man who pleases God will escape her,

but the sinner she will ensnare.

27“Look,” says the Teacher,#7:27 Or the leader of the assembly “this is what I have discovered:

“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—

28while I was still searching

but not finding—

I found one upright man among a thousand,

but not one upright woman among them all.

29This only have I found:

God created mankind upright,

but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®

Learn More About New International Version