|
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.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the
countenance the heart is made 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 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth
the heart.
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 angry: for anger resteth in the
bosom of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better
than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to
them that see the sun.
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.
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, 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.
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.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why
shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
17 Be not over much 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
this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them
all.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are
in the city.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear
thy servant curse thee:
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself
likewise hast cursed others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it
was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
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:
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.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by
one, to find out the account:
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.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but
they have sought out many inventions.
|
