Ecclesiastes 7:1-22 ▼

1 (7:3) A good name is better then a good oyntment, and the day of death, then the day that one is borne.

2 (7:4) It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting, because this is the ende of all men: and the liuing shall lay it to his heart.

3 (7:5) Anger is better then laughter: for by a sad looke the heart is made better.

4 (7:6) The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.

5 (7:7) Better it is to heare ye rebuke of a wise man, then that a man should heare the song of fooles.

6 (7:8) For like ye noyse of the thornes vnder the pot, so is the laughter of the foole: this also is vanitie.

7 (7:9) Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the rewarde destroyeth the heart.

8 (7:10) The ende of a thing is better then the beginning thereof, and the pacient in spirit is better then the proude in spirit.

9 (7:11) Be not thou of an hastie spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.

10 (7:12) Say not thou, Why is it that the former dayes were better then these? For thou doest not enquire wisely of this thing.

11 (7:13) Wisedome is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sunne.

12 (7:14) For man shall rest in the shadowe of wisedome, and in the shadowe of siluer: but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessers thereof.

13 (7:15) Beholde the worke of God: for who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?

14 (7:16) In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man shoulde finde nothing after him.

15 (7:17) I haue seene all things in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his iustice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.

16 (7:18) Be not thou iust ouermuch, neither make thy selfe ouerwise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?

17 (7:19) Be not thou wicked ouermuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?

18 (7:20) It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdrawe not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God, shall come forth of them all.

19 (7:21) Wisedome shall strengthen the wise man more then ten mightie princes that are in ye citie.

20 (7:22) Surely there is no man iust in the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

21 (7:23) Giue not thine heart also to all ye wordes that men speake, lest thou doe heare thy seruant cursing thee.

22 (7:24) For often times also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others.