Ecclesiastes 7

1A GOODH2896 nameH8034 is betterH2896 thanH2896 precious ointmentH8081; and the dayH3117 of deathH4194 thanH2896 the dayH3117 of one’s birthH3205. 2It is betterH2896 to go to the houseH1004 of mourningH60, thanH2896 to go to the houseH1004 of feastingH4960: for that is the endH5490 of allH3605 menH120; and the livingH2416 will layH5414 it to his heartH3820. 3SorrowH2896 is betterH2896 thanH2896 laughterH7814: for by the sadnessH7455 of the countenanceH6440 the heartH3820 is madeH3190 gladH3190. 4The heartH3820 of the wiseH2450 is in the houseH1004 of mourningH60; but the heartH3820 of foolsH3684 is in the houseH1004 of mirthH8057. 5It is betterH2896 to hearH8085 the rebukeH1606 of the wiseH2450, thanH2896 for a manH376 to hearH8085 the songH7892 of foolsH3684. 6For as the cracklingH6963 of thorns underH8478 a potH5518, soH3651 is the laughterH7814 of the foolH3684: this also is vanityH1892. 7SurelyH3588 extortionH6233 maketh a wiseH2450 manH2450 foolish; and a giftH4979 destroyeth the understandingH3820. 8BetterH2896 is the endH319 of a thingH1697 thanH2896 the beginningH7225 thereof: and the patientH750 in spiritH7307 is betterH2896 thanH2896 the proud in spiritH7307. 9Be notH408 hasty in thy spiritH7307 to be angryH3707: for angerH3707 resteth in the bosomH2436 of foolsH3684. 10SayH559 notH3808 thou, WhatH4100 is the causeH1961 that the formerH7223 daysH3117 were betterH2896 thanH3808 theseH428? for thou dost notH3808 inquireH7592 wiselyH2451 concerning this. 11WisdomH2451 is as goodH2896 as an inheritanceH5159: yea, moreH3148 excellent is it for them that seeH7200 the sunH8121. 12For wisdomH2451 is a defence, evenH3588 as moneyH3701 is a defence: but the excellency of knowledgeH1847 is, that wisdomH2451 preserveth the lifeH2421 of him that hath it. 13ConsiderH7200 the workH4639 of GodH430: for who canH4310 makeH7200 that straight, whichH834 he hath madeH4639 crookedH5791? 14In the dayH3117 of prosperityH2896 be joyful, and in the dayH3117 of adversity considerH7200: GodH430 hath evenH1571 madeH6213 the one sideH2088 by sideH2088 with the otherH2088, to the endH310 that manH120 should notH3808 findH4672 outH5921 anyH1571 thingH2088 that shall be afterH310 him. 15AllH3605 this have I seenH7200 in the daysH3117 of my vanityH1892: there is a righteousH6662 manH7563 that perisheth in his righteousnessH6664, and there is a wickedH7563 manH7563 that prolongeth his lifeH3117 in his evil-doing. 16Be notH408 righteousH6662 over muchH7235; neitherH408 makeH8074 thyself over wiseH2449: whyH4100 shouldest thou destroyH8074 thyself? 17Be notH3808 over muchH7235 wickedH7561, neitherH3808 be thou foolishH5530: whyH4100 shouldest thou dieH4191 beforeH3808 thy time? 18It is goodH2896 that thou shouldest takeH270 holdH270 of this; yeaH3588, also from that withdraw notH408 thine handH3027: for he that feareth GodH430 shall comeH3318 forthH3318 of them allH3605. 19WisdomH2451 is a strength to the wiseH2450 manH2450 more than tenH6235 rulersH7989 whichH834 are in a cityH5892. 20SurelyH3588 there is notH3808 a righteousH6662 manH120 upon earthH776, that doeth goodH2896, and sinneth notH3808. 21Also takeH5414 notH3808 heedH8085 unto allH3605 wordsH1697 that are spokenH1696; lest thou hearH8085 thy servantH5650 curseH7043 thee: 22for oftentimes also thine own heartH3820 knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursedH7043 othersH312. 23AllH3605 this have I provedH5254 in wisdomH2451: I saidH559, I will be wiseH2449; but it was farH7350 from meH4480. 24That whichH4310 is is farH7350 offH7350, and exceeding deepH6013; who canH4310 findH4672 it outH4100? 25I turnedH5437 aboutH5437, and my heartH3820 was setH5437 to knowH3045 and to searchH1245 outH3045, and to seekH1245 wisdomH2451 and the reason of things, and to knowH3045 that wickednessH7562 is follyH5531, and that foolishnessH3689 is madnessH1947: 26And I findH4672 a thingH1931 moreH4480 bitterH4751 thanH4480 deathH4194, evenH853 the womanH802 whoseH834 heartH3820 is snares and netsH2764, and herH802 handsH3027 as bands: whoso pleaseth GodH430 shall escapeH4422 from herH802; but the sinnerH2398 shall be takenH3920 by herH802. 27BeholdH7200, this have I foundH4672, saith the PreacherH6953; laying one thingH2088 to anotherH259, to findH4672 outH7200 the account: 28whichH834 my soulH5315 stillH5750 seeketh, but I have notH3808 foundH4672: one manH120 among a thousandH505 have I foundH4672; but a womanH802 among allH3605 thoseH428 have I notH3808 foundH4672. 29BeholdH7200, this onlyH905 have I foundH4672, that GodH430 madeH6213 manH120 uprightH3477; but they have soughtH1245 outH7200 manyH7227 inventions.