Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

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.