ECCLESIASTES
OR
THE PREACHER
Ecclesiastes 7 ©
The wise man teaches in this chapter how among so many vain things which are in the world, we should study and endeavor to get and keep a good name, v. 1. That we should often set before our eyes our mortality, 2. Next, he gives certain good lessons how men should suffer themselves to be instructed of those who are wise, 5. Unto patience and perseverance, 7. And other virtues, 8. The praise of wisdom, 11. And other virtues, 14. The praise of moderation, 16. Of wisdom, 19. All men are sinners, 20. All things are not to be too narrowly searched out, 21. An evil woman ought to be avoided, 26. God has created men good, 29.
A GOOD name isa1better than 2precious ointment; and the 3day of death than the day of one's birth.
¶It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for 4that 5is the end of all men; and the living will 6lay it to his heart.
7Sorrow is better than laughter: for by 8the sadness of the countenance the heart 9is made better.
10The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
11It isb better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear 12the song of fools.
For asc13the crackling of thorns 14under a pot, so is 15the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
¶Surely 16oppression maketh a wise man mad; and 17a gift destroyeth the heart.
Better is 18the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and 19the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
20Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
21Say not thou, What is the cause that 22the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
¶ 23Wisdom is good 24with an inheritance: and by it there is profit 25to them that see the sun.
For 26wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the 27excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
28Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
In the day 29of prosperity 30be joyful, but in the day 31of adversity 32consider: God also hath set 33the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing 34after him.
All things have I seen 35in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that 36perisheth 37in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
38Be not righteous over much; neither 39make thyself over wise: 40why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
41Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: 42why shouldest thou die before thy time?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold 43of this; yea, also 44from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God 45shall come forth of them all.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than 46ten mighty men which are in the city.
Fordthere is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
47Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
For oftentimes also 48thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed 49others.
¶All this have I proved by wisdom: 50I said, I will be wise; but 51it was far from me.
52That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
53I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and 54the reason of things, and toe know the wickedness of folly, 55even of foolishness and madness:
And I find moref bitter than death the woman, whose heart is 56snares and nets, and her hands as bands: 57whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but 58the sinnerg shall be taken by her.
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, 59to find out the account:
60Which yet 61my soul seeketh, but I find not: 62one man among a thousand have I found; but 63a woman among 64all those have I not found.
Lo, 65this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but 66they have 67sought out many 68inventions.