The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
EcclesiastesOR, THE PREACHER
Ecclesiastes 7
Wisdom and Folly Compared | |
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 inquire 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 defense, and money is a defense: 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. |
Published by The American Bible Society
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