Ecc 7 | ASV | e4.org | A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.

‏ Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than precious oil; 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 ^▼▼1 glad. ^{▼▼1) Or 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 ^▼▼1 Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding. ^{▼▼1) Or For} 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 ^▼▼1 angry; for ^▼▼2 anger resteth in the bosom of fools. ^{▼▼1) Or vexed 2) Or vexation} 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire ^▼▼1 wisely concerning this. ^{▼▼1) Heb out of wisdom}

11 Wisdom ^▼▼1 is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun. ^{▼▼1) Or is good together with an inheritance, and profitable unto them etc} 12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath 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, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything that shall be after him. 15 All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing. 16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not overmuch 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 that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all. 19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city. 20 ^▼▼1 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. ^{▼▼1) Or For} 21 Also ^▼▼1 take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; ^{▼▼1) Heb give not thy heart} 22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 All this have I ^▼▼1 proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. ^{▼▼1) Or tried by} 24 That which ^▼▼1 is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out? ^{▼▼1) Or hath been} 25 I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things , and to know ^▼▼1 that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness. ^{▼▼1) Or the wickedness of folly, and foolishness which is madness} 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman ^▼▼1 whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. ^{▼▼1) Or who is a snare, and her heart is as nets} 27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, ^▼▼1 laying one thing to another, to find out the account; ^{▼▼1) Or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason} 28 which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.