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