Ecclesiastes 7

1A [goodH2896] nameH8034 is betterH2896 than precious ointment, and the dayH3117 of deathH4194 than the dayH3117 of one's birthH3205. 2It is betterH2896 to go to the houseH1004 of mourningH60 than to go to the houseH1004 of feastingH4960: in that that is the endH5490 of all menH120, and the living taketh it to heartH3820. 3Vexation is betterH2896 than laughterH7814; for by the sadnessH7455 of the countenance the heartH3820 is madeH3190 betterH2896. 4The heartH3820 of the wiseH2450 is in the houseH1004 of mourningH60, but the heartH3820 of foolsH3684 in the houseH1004 of mirth. 5It is betterH2896 for a manH376 to hearH8085 the rebukeH1606 of the wiseH2450, than to hearH8085 the songH7892 of foolsH3684. 6For as the crackling of thorns under a potH5518, soH3651 is the laughterH7814 of the foolH3684. This alsoH1571 is vanityH1892. 7Surely oppressionH6233 maketh a wiseH2450 man mad, and a giftH4979 destroyeth the heartH3820. 8Better is the endH319 of a thingH1697 than its beginning; betterH2896 is a patient spiritH7307 than a proud spiritH7307. 9Be not hasty in thy spiritH7307 to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosomH2436 of foolsH3684. 10SayH559 not, HowH4100 is it that the formerH7223 daysH3117 wereH1961 betterH2896 than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. 11WisdomH2451 is as goodH2896 as an inheritanceH5159, and profitable to them that seeH7200 the sunH8121. 12For wisdomH2451 is a defence [as] moneyH3701 is a defence; but the excellency of knowledgeH1847 is, [that] wisdomH2451 maketh them that possess it to liveH2421. 13ConsiderH7200 the workH4639 of 1GodH430; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked? 14In the dayH3117 of prosperity enjoy goodH2896, and in the dayH3117 of adversity considerH7200: 2GodH430 hath alsoH1571 set the oneH2088 beside the other, to the end that manH120 should findH4672 out nothing [of what shall beH1961] after him. 15All [this] have I seenH7200 in the daysH3117 of my vanityH1892: there is a righteousH6662 [man] that perisheth by his righteousnessH6664, and there is a wickedH7563 [man] that prolongeth [his daysH3117] by his wickednessH7451. 16BeH1961 not righteousH6662 overmuch; neither makeH8074 thyself overwise: whyH4100 shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17BeH1961 not overmuch wicked, neither beH1961 thou foolish: whyH4100 shouldest thou dieH4191 before thy timeH6256? 18It is goodH2896 that thou shouldest takeH270 holdH270 of this; yea, alsoH1571 from that withdraw not thy handH3027: for he that feareth 3GodH430 cometh forthH3318 from them all. 19WisdomH2451 strengtheneth the wiseH2450 more than tenH6235 mighty [men] that are in a cityH5892. 20Surely there is not a righteousH6662 manH120 upon earthH776, that doeth goodH2896 and sinneth not. 21AlsoH1571 giveH5414 not heed unto all wordsH1697 that are spokenH1696, lest thou hearH8085 thy servantH5650 curseH7043 thee. 22For alsoH1571 thine own heartH3820 knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursedH7043 othersH312. 23All this have I tried by wisdomH2451: I saidH559, I will be wiseH2449; but it was farH7350 from me. 24Whatever hath beenH1961, is farH7350 off, and exceeding deepH6013: who will findH4672 it out? 25I turnedH5437, I and my heartH3820, to knowH3045, and to searchH1245, and to seekH1245 out wisdomH2451 and reason, and to knowH3045 wickednessH7562 to be follyH5531, and foolishness to be madnessH1947; 26and I foundH4672 moreH4480 bitterH4751 than deathH4194 the womanH802 whose heartH3820 is netsH2764 and snares, [and] whose handsH3027 are bands: whoso pleaseth 4GodH430 shall escapeH4422 from her; but the sinnerH2398 shall be caughtH3920 by her. 27SeeH7200 this which I have foundH4672, saith the Preacher, [searching] oneH259 by oneH259 to findH4672 out the reason; 28which my soulH5315 yetH5750 seeketh, and I have not foundH4672: oneH259 manH120 among a thousandH505 have I foundH4672, but a womanH802 among all those have I not foundH4672. 29OnlyH905 seeH7200 this which I have foundH4672: that 5GodH430 madeH6213 manH120 uprightH3477, but they have soughtH1245 out manyH7227 devices.