Ecclesiastes 7
1A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
Understand this verse deeper?2It 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 should take this to heart.
Understand this verse deeper?3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
Understand this verse deeper?4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Understand this verse deeper?5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Understand this verse deeper?6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
Understand this verse deeper?7Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
Understand this verse deeper?8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Understand this verse deeper?9Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Understand this verse deeper?10Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.
Understand this verse deeper?11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
Understand this verse deeper?12For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
Understand this verse deeper?13Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?
Understand this verse deeper?14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
Understand this verse deeper?15All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.
Understand this verse deeper?16Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
Understand this verse deeper?17Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
Understand this verse deeper?18It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.
Understand this verse deeper?19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Understand this verse deeper?20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.
Understand this verse deeper?21Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
Understand this verse deeper?22for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
Understand this verse deeper?23All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.
Understand this verse deeper?24That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
Understand this verse deeper?25I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
Understand this verse deeper?26I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
Understand this verse deeper?27“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation
Understand this verse deeper?28which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.
Understand this verse deeper?29Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”
Understand this verse deeper?