# Ecclesiastes 7 [[Ecclesiastes 6|←]] • [[Ecclesiastes 8|→]] --- ### 1 A good name better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. ### 2 better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that the end of all men; and the living will lay to his heart. ### 3 Sorrow better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. ### 4 The heart of the wise in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools in the house of mirth. ### 5 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 the laughter of the fool: this also vanity. ### 7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. ### 8 Better the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: the patient in spirit 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 that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. ### 11 Wisdom good with an inheritance: and profit to them that see the sun. ### 12 For wisdom a defence, money a defence: but the excellency of knowledge wisdom giveth life to them that have it. ### 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make 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 have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked that prolongeth 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 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 which are in the city. ### 20 For 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 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 and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness madness: ### 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart snares and nets, her hands 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, 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.