Eclesiastés 7

1A good name^H8034 is better^H2896 than precious^H2896 oil^H8081; and the day^H3117 of death^H4194, than the day^H3117 of one's birth^H3205. 2It is better^H2896 to go^H3212 to the house^H1004 of mourning^H60 than to go^H3212 to the house^H1004 of feasting^H4960: for^H834 that is the end^H5490 of all men^H120; and the living^H2416 will lay^H5414 it to his heart^H3820. 3Sorrow^H3708 is better^H2896 than laughter^H7814; for by the sadness^H7455 of the countenance^H6440 the heart^H3820 is made glad^H3190. 4The heart^H3820 of the wise^H2450 is in the house^H1004 of mourning^H60; but the heart^H3820 of fools^H3684 is in the house^H1004 of mirth^H8057. 5It is better^H2896 to hear^H8085 the rebuke^H1606 of the wise^H2450, than for a man^H376 to hear^H8085 the song^H7892 of fools^H3684. 6For as the crackling^H6963 of thorns^H5518 under a pot^H5518, so is the laughter^H7814 of the fool^H3684: this also is vanity^H1892. 7Surely extortion^H6233 maketh the wise man^H2450 foolish^H1984; and a bribe^H4979 destroyeth^H6 the understanding^H3820. 8Better^H2896 is the end^H319 of a thing^H1697 than the beginning^H7225 thereof; and the patient^H750 in spirit^H7307 is better^H2896 than the proud^H1362 in spirit^H7307. 9Be not hasty^H926 in thy spirit^H7307 to be angry^H3707; for anger^H3708 resteth^H5117 in the bosom^H2436 of fools^H3684. 10Say^H559 not thou, What is the cause that the former^H7223 days^H3117 were better^H2896 than these? for thou dost not inquire^H7592 wisely^H2451 concerning this. 11Wisdom^H2451 is as good^H2896 as an inheritance^H5159; yea, more excellent^H3148 is it for them that see^H7200 the sun^H8121. 12For wisdom^H2451 is a defence^H6738, even as money^H3701 is a defence^H6738; but the excellency^H3504 of knowledge^H1847 is, that wisdom^H2451 preserveth the life^H2421 of him that hath^H1167 it. 13Consider^H7200 the work^H4639 of God^H430: for who can^H3201 make that straight^H8626, which he hath made crooked^H5791? 14In the day^H3117 of prosperity^H2896 be joyful^H2896, and in the day^H3117 of adversity^H7451 consider^H7200; yea, God^H430 hath made^H6213 the one side by side^H5980 with the other, to the end^H1700 that man^H120 should not find^H4672 out anything^H3972 that shall be after^H310 him. 15All this have I seen^H7200 in my days^H3117 of vanity^H1892: there is^H3426 a righteous^H6662 man that perisheth^H6 in his righteousness^H6664, and there is a wicked^H7563 man that prolongeth^H748 his life in his evil-doing^H7451. 16Be not righteous^H6662 overmuch^H7235; neither make thyself^H3148 overwise^H2449: why shouldest thou destroy^H8074 thyself? 17Be not overmuch^H7235 wicked^H7561, neither be thou foolish^H5530: why shouldest thou die^H4191 before thy time^H6256? 18It is good^H2896 that thou shouldest take hold^H270 of this^H2088; yea, also from that withdraw^H3240 not thy hand^H3027: for he that feareth^H3373 God^H430 shall come forth^H3318 from them all. 19Wisdom^H2451 is a strength^H5810 to the wise^H2450 man more than ten^H6235 rulers^H7989 that are in a city^H5892. 20Surely there is not a righteous^H6662 man^H120 upon earth^H776, that doeth^H6213 good^H2896, and sinneth^H2398 not. 21Also take^H5414 not heed^H3820 unto all words^H1697 that are spoken^H1696, lest thou hear^H8085 thy servant^H5650 curse^H7043 thee; 22for oftentimes^H6471 also thine own heart^H3820 knoweth^H3045 that thou thyself likewise hast cursed^H7043 others^H312. 23All this^H2090 have I proved^H5254 in wisdom^H2451: I said^H559, I will be wise^H2449; but it was far^H7350 from me. 24That which is, is far off^H7350 and exceeding deep^H6013; who can find it out^H4672? 25I turned^H5437 about, and my heart^H3820 was set to know^H3045 and to search^H8446 out^H1245, and to seek wisdom^H2451 and the reason^H2808 of things, and to know^H3045 that wickedness^H7562 is folly^H3689, and that foolishness^H5531 is madness^H1947. 26And I find^H4672 more bitter^H4751 than death^H4194 the woman^H802 whose heart^H3820 is snares^H4685 and nets^H2764, and whose hands^H3027 are bands^H612: whoso pleaseth^H2896 God^H430 shall escape^H4422 from her; but the sinner^H2398 shall be taken^H3920 by her. 27Behold^H7200, this have I found^H4672, saith^H559 the Preacher^H6953, laying one^H259 thing to another^H259, to find out^H4672 the account^H2808; 28which my soul^H5315 still seeketh^H1245, but I have not found^H4672: one^H259 man^H120 among a thousand^H505 have I found^H4672; but a woman^H802 among all those have I not found^H4672. 29Behold^H7200, this only^H905 have I found^H4672: that God^H430 made^H6213 man^H120 upright^H3477; but they have sought out^H1245 many^H120 inventions^H2810.