Chapter 7
- 7:1
- A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than
the day of one's birth.
- 7:2
- 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.
- 7:3
- Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the
heart is made better.
- 7:4
- The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools
is in the house of mirth.
- 7:5
- It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the
song of fools.
- 7:6
- For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the
fool: this also is vanity.
- 7:7
- Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
- 7:8
- Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient
in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- 7:9
- Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of
fools.
- 7:10
- Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than
these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
- 7:11
- Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that
see the sun.
- 7:12
- 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.
- 7:13
- Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath
made crooked?
- 7:14
- 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.
- 7:15
- 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.
- 7:16
- Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest
thou destroy thyself ?
- 7:17
- Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die
before thy time?
- 7:18
- 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.
- 7:19
- Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the
city.
- 7:20
- For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
- 7:21
- Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy
servant curse thee:
- 7:22
- For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise
hast cursed others.
- 7:23
- All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far
from me.
- 7:24
- That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
- 7:25
- 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:
- 7:26
- 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.
- 7:27
- Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to
find out the account:
- 7:28
- 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.
- 7:29
- Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have
sought out many inventions.