Kohelet (Ecc) 7
7
1A good name is better than perfumed oil,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2Better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for all are destined to be mourned;
the living should lay this to heart.
3Grief is better than laughter,
for sadness can improve a person.
4The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning,
but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure.
5It is better to hear the rebukes of the wise
than to listen to the songs of fools.
6For the laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorns
burning under a pot; this too is pointless.
7But oppression can make a wise man stupid;
also a gift can destroy understanding.
8The end of something is better than its beginning,
so the patient are better than the proud.
9Don’t be quick to get angry,
for [only] fools nurse anger.
10Don’t ask why the old days were better than now,
because that is a foolish question.
11Wisdom is good, along with possessions,
an advantage to all who see the sun.
12For wisdom is a shelter,
and money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is
that wisdom keeps the one who has it alive.
13Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14When things are going well, enjoy yourself;
but when things are going badly, consider
that God made the one alongside the other,
so that people would learn nothing of their futures.
15In my pointless life, I’ve seen everything —
from the righteous person perishing in his uprightness
to the wicked one who lives a long life
and keeps on doing wrong.
16So don’t be overly righteous or overly wise;
why should you disappoint yourself?
17But don’t be overly wicked, and don’t be foolish;
why should you die before your time?
18Don’t grasp just one of these rules;
take hold of the other as well;
for he who is in fear of God
will live by both of them.
19To a wise man wisdom is better protection
than ten rulers in a city.
20For there isn’t a righteous person on earth
who does [only] good and never sins.
21Also, don’t take seriously every word spoken,
such as when you hear your servant speaking badly of you;
22because often, as you yourself know,
you have spoken badly of others.
23All this I have put to the test of wisdom;
I said, “I will acquire wisdom”;
but wisdom remained far away from me.
24That which exists is far away
and deep, so deep, that it can’t be discovered.
25So I turned myself and my thoughts to know, search out and seek wisdom and the reasons behind things, also to know how foolish it is to be wicked and how stupid to act like a fool.
26I found more bitter than death
the woman who is a trap,
whose heart is a snare
and whose hands are like prison chains.
The man who pleases God will escape from her,
but the sinner will be caught by her.
27I have found this — says Kohelet —
adding one thing to another to reach a conclusion,
28I searched a long time without finding it:
one man in a thousand I have found,
but a woman among all those I have not found.
29This is the only thing I have found,
that God made human beings upright,
but they have devised many schemes.
Currently Selected:
Kohelet (Ecc) 7: CJB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
For more information and to purchase a hard copy of the Complete Jewish Bible,
Learn More About Complete Jewish BibleEcclesiastes 7
7
The Vanity of Fame
1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2It 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 better. 4The 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. 6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. 7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14In 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.
15All 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. 16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18It 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.
19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
The Quest for Wisdom
23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 25I 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: 26and 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. 27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: 28which 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. 29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Rights in the Authorized (King James) Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Published by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Learn More About King James Version