Ecclesiastes 7 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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World English Bible Classic
[1] A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better 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 should take this to heart. [3] Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good. [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 extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding. [8] Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. [9] Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. [10] Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this. [11] Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun. [12] For 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. [13] Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked? [14] In 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. [15] All 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. [16] Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? [17] Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time? [18] It 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. [19] Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. [20] Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin. [21] Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you; [22] for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others. [23] All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me. [24] That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out? [25] I 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. [26] I 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. [27] “Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation [28] which 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. [29] Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”
King James Version

The Vanity of Fame

[1] A good name H8034 is better H2896 than precious H2896 ointment; H8081 and the day H3117 of death H4194 than the day H3117 of one’s birth. H3205 [2] It 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 [3] Sorrow H3708§ is better H2896 than laughter: H7814 for H3588 by the sadness H7455 of the countenance H6440 the heart H3820 is made better. H3190 [4] The 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 [5] It 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 [6] For H3588 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 [7] Surely H3588 oppression H6233 maketh a wise man H2450 mad; H1984 and a gift H4979 destroyeth H6 H853 the heart. H3820 [8] Better 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 [9] Be not hasty H926 in thy spirit H7307 to be angry: H3707 for H3588 anger H3708 resteth H5117 in the bosom H2436 of fools. H3684 [10] Say H559 not thou, What is the cause that the former H7223 days H3117 were better H2896 than these? for thou dost not enquire H7592 wisely H2451§ concerning this. [11] Wisdom H2451 is good H2896 with H5973 an inheritance: H5159§ and by it there is profit H3148 to them that see H7200 the sun. H8121 [12] For H3588 wisdom H2451 is a defence, H6738§ and money H3701 is a defence: H6738 but the excellency H3504 of knowledge H1847 is, that wisdom H2451 giveth life H2421 to them that have H1167 it. [13] Consider H7200 H853 the work H4639 of God: H430 for H3588 who can H3201 make that straight, H8626 which H834 he hath made crooked? H5791 [14] In the day H3117 of prosperity H2896 be joyful, H2896 but in the day H3117 of adversity H7451 consider: H7200 God H430 also H1571 hath set H6213§ the one over H5980 against H5921 the other, to the end H1700 that man H120 should find H4672 nothing H3972 after H310 him. [15] All things have I seen H7200 in the days H3117 of my vanity: H1892 there is H3426 a just H6662 man that perisheth H6 in his righteousness, H6664 and there is a wicked H7563 man that prolongeth H748 his life in his wickedness. H7451 [16] Be not righteous H6662 over much; H7235 neither make thyself over H3148 wise: H2449 why shouldest thou destroy H8074 thyself?§ [17] Be not over much H7235 wicked, H7561 neither be thou foolish: H5530 why shouldest thou die H4191 before thy time? H6256§ [18] It is good H2896 that thou shouldest take hold H270 of this; yea, also from this H2088 withdraw H3240 H853 not H408 thine hand: H3027 for H3588 he that feareth H3373 God H430 shall come forth H3318 of them all. [19] Wisdom H2451 strengtheneth H5810 the wise H2450 more than ten H6235 mighty H7989 men which are in the city. H5892 [20] For there is not a just H6662 man H120 upon earth, H776 that doeth H6213 good, H2896 and sinneth H2398 not. [21] Also H1571 take H5414 no heed H3820§ unto all words H1697 that are spoken; H1696 lest thou hear H8085 H853 thy servant H5650 curse H7043 thee: [22] for H3588 oftentimes H6471 H7227 also H1571 thine own heart H3820 knoweth H3045 that thou thyself likewise hast cursed H7043 others. H312

The Quest for Wisdom

[23] All H3605 this H2090 have I proved H5254 by wisdom: H2451 I said, H559 I will be wise; H2449 but it was far H7350 from me. [24] That which is far off, H7350 and exceeding deep, H6013 who can find it out? H4672 [25] I applied H5437 mine heart H3820§ to know, H3045 and to search, H8446 and to seek out H1245 wisdom, H2451 and the reason H2808 of things, and to know H3045 the wickedness H7562 of folly, H3689 even of foolishness H5531 and madness: H1947 [26] and I find H4672 more bitter H4751 than death H4194 H853 the woman, H802 whose H834 heart H3820 is snares H4685 and nets, H2764 and her hands H3027 as bands: H612 whoso pleaseth H2896 H6440 God H430 shall escape H4422 from H4480 her; but the sinner H2398 shall be taken H3920 by her. [27] Behold, H7200 this H2088 have I found, H4672 saith H559 the Preacher, H6953 counting one H259 by one, H259 to find out H4672 the account: H2808 [28] which H834 yet my soul H5315 seeketh, H1245 but I find H4672 not: one H259 man H120 among a thousand H505 have I found; H4672 but a woman H802 among all those have I not found. H4672 [29] Lo, H7200 this H2088 only H905 have I found, H4672 that God H430 hath made H6213 H853 man H120 upright; H3477 but they have sought out H1245 many H7227 inventions. H2810

Footnotes

  1. § 7:3 Or, anger
  2. § 7:6 Heb. sound
  3. § 7:10 Heb. out of wisdom
  4. § 7:11 Or, as good as an inheritance, yea, better too
  5. § 7:12 Heb. shadow
  6. § 7:14 Heb. made
  7. § 7:16 Heb. be desolate?
  8. § 7:17 Heb. not in thy time?
  9. § 7:21 Heb. give not thine heart
  10. § 7:25 Heb. I and mine heart compassed
Septuaginta
[1] Ἀγαθὸν G18 ὄνομα G3686 ὑπὲρ G5228 ἔλαιον G1637 ἀγαθὸν G18 καὶ G2532 ἡμέρα G2250 τοῦ G3588 θανάτου G2288 ὑπὲρ G5228 ἡμέραν G2250 γενέσεως G1078 αὐτοῦ. G846 [2] Ἀγαθὸν G18 πορευθῆναι G4198 εἰς G1519 οἶκον G3624 πένθους G3997 ἢ G2228 ὅτι G3754 πορευθῆναι G4198 εἰς G1519 οἶκον G3624 πότου, G4224 καθότι G2530 τοῦτο G5124 τέλος G5056 παντὸς G3956 τοῦ G3588 ἀνθρώπου, G444 καὶ G2532 ὁ G3588 ζῶν G2198 δώσει G1325 εἰς G1519 καρδίαν G2588 αὐτοῦ. G846 [3] Ἀγαθὸν G18 θυμὸς G2372 ὑπὲρ G5228 γέλωτα, G1071 ὅτι G3754 ἐν G1722 κακίᾳ G2549 προσώπου G4383 ἀγαθυνθήσεται καρδία. G2588 [4] Καρδία G2588 σοφῶν G4680 ἐν G1722 οἴκῳ G3624 πένθους, G3997 καὶ G2532 καρδία G2588 ἀφρόνων G878 ἐν G1722 οἴκῳ G3624 εὐφροσύνης. G2167 [5] Ἀγαθὸν G18 τὸ G3588 ἀκοῦσαι G191 ἐπιτίμησιν σοφοῦ G4680 ὑπὲρ G5228 ἄνδρα G435 ἀκούοντα G191 ᾆσμα ἀφρόνων· G878 [6] ὅτι G3754 ὡς G5613 φωνὴ G5456 τῶν G3588 ἀκανθῶν G173 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 λέβητα, οὕτως G3779 γέλως G1071 τῶν G3588 ἀφρόνων· G878 καί G2532 γε G1065 τοῦτο G5124 ματαιότης. G3153 [7] Ὅτι G3754 ἡ G3588 συκοφαντία περιφέρει G4064 σοφὸν G4680 καὶ G2532 ἀπόλλυσι G622 τὴν G3588 καρδίαν G2588 εὐτονίας αὐτοῦ. G846 [8] Ἀγαθὴ G18 ἐσχάτη G2078 λόγων G3056 ὑπὲρ G5228 ἀρχὴν G746 αὐτοῦ, G846 ἀγαθὸν G18 μακρόθυμος ὑπὲρ G5228 ὑψηλὸν G5308 πνεύματι. G4151 [9] Μὴ G3361 σπεύσῃς G4692 ἐν G1722 πνεύματί G4151 σου G4675 τοῦ G3588 θυμοῦσθαι, G2373 ὅτι G3754 θυμὸς G2372 ἐν G1722 κόλπῳ G2859 ἀφρόνων G878 ἀναπαύσεται. G373 [10] Μὴ G3361 εἴπῃς G2036 Τί G5101 ἐγένετο G1096 ὅτι G3754 αἱ G3588 ἡμέραι G2250 αἱ G3588 πρότεραι ἦσαν G2258 ἀγαθαὶ G18 ὑπὲρ G5228 ταύτας; G3778 Ὅτι G3754 οὐκ G3756 ἐν G1722 σοφίᾳ G4678 ἐπηρώτησας G1905 περὶ G4012 τούτου. G5127 [11] Ἀγαθὴ G18 σοφία G4678 μετὰ G3326 κληροδοσίας καὶ G2532 περισσεία G4050 τοῖς G3588 θεωροῦσιν G2334 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον· G2246 [12] ὅτι G3754 ἐν G1722 σκιᾷ G4639 αὐτῆς G846 ἡ G3588 σοφία G4678 ὡς G5613 σκιὰ G4639 τοῦ G3588 ἀργυρίου, G694 καὶ G2532 περισσεία G4050 γνώσεως G1108 τῆς G3588 σοφίας G4678 ζωοποιήσει G2227 τὸν G3588 παρ’ G3844 αὐτῆς. G846 [13] Ἰδὲ G1492 τὰ G3588 ποιήματα G4161 τοῦ G3588 θεοῦ· G2316 ὅτι G3754 τίς G5101 δυνήσεται G1410 τοῦ G3588 κοσμῆσαι G2885 ὃν G3739 ἂν G302 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 διαστρέψῃ G1294 αὐτόν; G846 [14] Ἐν G1722 ἡμέρᾳ G2250 ἀγαθωσύνης G19 ζῆθι G2198 ἐν G1722 ἀγαθῷ G18 καὶ G2532 ἐν G1722 ἡμέρᾳ G2250 κακίας G2549 ἰδέ· G1492 καί G2532 γε G1065 σὺν G4862 τοῦτο G5124 σύμφωνον G4859 τούτῳ G5129 ἐποίησεν G4160 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 περὶ G4012 λαλιᾶς, G2981 ἵνα G2443 μὴ G3361 εὕρῃ G2147 ὁ G3588 ἄνθρωπος G444 ὀπίσω G3694 αὐτοῦ G846 μηδέν. G3367 [15] Σὺν G4862 τὰ G3588 πάντα G3956 εἶδον G1492 ἐν G1722 ἡμέραις G2250 ματαιότητός G3153 μου· G3450 ἔστιν G2076 δίκαιος G1342 ἀπολλύμενος G622 ἐν G1722 δικαίῳ G1342 αὐτοῦ, G846 καὶ G2532 ἔστιν G2076 ἀσεβὴς G765 μένων G3306 ἐν G1722 κακίᾳ G2549 αὐτοῦ. G846 [16] Μὴ G3361 γίνου G1096 δίκαιος G1342 πολὺ G4183 καὶ G2532 μὴ G3361 σοφίζου G4679 περισσά, μήποτε G3379 ἐκπλαγῇς. G1605 [17] Μὴ G3361 ἀσεβήσῃς G764 πολὺ G4183 καὶ G2532 μὴ G3361 γίνου G1096 σκληρός, G4642 ἵνα G2443 μὴ G3361 ἀποθάνῃς G599 ἐν G1722 οὐ G3756 καιρῷ G2540 σου. G4675 [18] Ἀγαθὸν G18 τὸ G3588 ἀντέχεσθαί G472 σε G4571 ἐν G1722 τούτῳ, G5129 καί G2532 γε G1065 ἀπὸ G575 τούτου G5127 μὴ G3361 ἀνῇς G447 τὴν G3588 χεῖρά G5495 σου, G4675 ὅτι G3754 φοβούμενος G5399 τὸν G3588 θεὸν G2316 ἐξελεύσεται G1831 τὰ G3588 πάντα. G3956 [19] Ἡ G3588 σοφία G4678 βοηθήσει G994 τῷ G3588 σοφῷ G4680 ὑπὲρ G5228 δέκα G1176 ἐξουσιάζοντας G1850 τοὺς G3588 ὄντας G5607 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 πόλει· G4172 [20] ὅτι G3754 ἄνθρωπος G444 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 δίκαιος G1342 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 γῇ, G1093 ὃς G3739 ποιήσει G4160 ἀγαθὸν G18 καὶ G2532 οὐχ G3756 ἁμαρτήσεται. G264 [21] Καί G2532 γε G1065 εἰς G1519 πάντας G3956 τοὺς G3588 λόγους, G3056 οὓς G3739 λαλήσουσιν, G2980 μὴ G3361 θῇς G5087 καρδίαν G2588 σου, G4675 ὅπως G3704 μὴ G3361 ἀκούσῃς G191 τοῦ G3588 δούλου G1401 σου G4675 καταρωμένου G2672 σε, G4571 [22] ὅτι G3754 πλειστάκις πονηρεύσεταί σε G4571 καὶ G2532 καθόδους πολλὰς G4183 κακώσει G2559 καρδίαν G2588 σου, G4675 ὅπως G3704 καί G2532 γε G1065 σὺ G4771 κατηράσω G2672 ἑτέρους. G2087 [23] Πάντα G3956 ταῦτα G5023 ἐπείρασα G3985 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 σοφίᾳ· G4678 εἶπα G2036 Σοφισθήσομαι, G4679 [24] καὶ G2532 αὐτὴ G846 ἐμακρύνθη ἀπ’ G575 ἐμοῦ G1699 μακρὰν G3117 ὑπὲρ G5228 ὃ G3739 ἦν, G2258 καὶ G2532 βαθὺ G901 βάθος, G899 τίς G5101 εὑρήσει G2147 αὐτό; G846 [25] Ἐκύκλωσα G2944 ἐγώ, G1473 καὶ G2532 ἡ G3588 καρδία G2588 μου G3450 τοῦ G3588 γνῶναι G1097 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 κατασκέψασθαι καὶ G2532 ζητῆσαι G2212 σοφίαν G4678 καὶ G2532 ψῆφον G5586 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 γνῶναι G1097 ἀσεβοῦς G765 ἀφροσύνην G877 καὶ G2532 σκληρίαν καὶ G2532 περιφοράν. [26] Καὶ G2532 εὑρίσκω G2147 ἐγὼ G1473 πικρότερον G4089 ὑπὲρ G5228 θάνατον, G2288 σὺν G4862 τὴν G3588 γυναῖκα, G1135 ἥτις G3748 ἐστὶν G2076 θηρεύματα καὶ G2532 σαγῆναι G4522 καρδία G2588 αὐτῆς, G846 δεσμοὶ G1199 χεῖρες G5495 αὐτῆς· G846 ἀγαθὸς G18 πρὸ G4253 προσώπου G4383 τοῦ G3588 θεοῦ G2316 ἐξαιρεθήσεται G1807 ἀπ’ G575 αὐτῆς, G846 καὶ G2532 ἁμαρτάνων G264 συλλημφθήσεται G4815 ἐν G1722 αὐτῇ. G846 [27] Ἰδὲ G1492 τοῦτο G5124 εὗρον, G2147 εἶπεν G2036 ὁ G3588 Ἐκκλησιαστής, μία G3391 τῇ G3588 μιᾷ G3391 τοῦ G3588 εὑρεῖν G2147 λογισμόν, G3053 [28] ὃν G3739 ἔτι G2089 ἐζήτησεν G2212 ἡ G3588 ψυχή G5590 μου G3450 καὶ G2532 οὐχ G3756 εὗρον· G2147 ἄνθρωπον G444 ἕνα G1520 ἀπὸ G575 χιλίων G5507 εὗρον G2147 καὶ G2532 γυναῖκα G1135 ἐν G1722 πᾶσι G3956 τούτοις G5125 οὐχ G3756 εὗρον. G2147 [29] Πλὴν G4133 ἰδὲ G1492 τοῦτο G5124 εὗρον, G2147 ὃ G3739 ἐποίησεν G4160 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 σὺν G4862 τὸν G3588 ἄνθρωπον G444 εὐθῆ, καὶ G2532 αὐτοὶ G846 ἐζήτησαν G2212 λογισμοὺς G3053 πολλούς. G4183
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament