EC-7:1  A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the

day of death

than the day of one's birth.

EC-7:2  [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.

EC-7:3  Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of

the

countenance the heart is made better.

EC-7:4  The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but

the heart of

fools [is] in the house of mirth.

EC-7:5  [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for

a man to hear

the song of fools.

EC-7:6  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the

laughter of

the fool: this also [is] vanity.

EC-7:7  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift

destroyeth the

heart.

EC-7:8  Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning

thereof: [and] the

patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

EC-7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger

resteth in the bosom

of fools.

EC-7:10  Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days

were better

than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

EC-7:11  Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there

is] profit to

them that see the sun.

EC-7:12  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.

EC-7:13  Consider the work of God: for who can make [that]

straight, which he

hath made crooked?

EC-7:14  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.

EC-7:15  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.

EC-7:16  Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over

wise: why

shouldest thou destroy thyself?

EC-7:17  Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why

shouldest thou

die before thy time?

EC-7:18  [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.

EC-7:19  Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty

[men] which are in

the city.

EC-7:20  For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth

good, and

sinneth not.

EC-7:21  Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest

thou hear thy

servant curse thee:

EC-7:22  For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou

thyself

likewise hast cursed others.

EC-7:23  All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be

wise; but it

[was] far from me.

EC-7:24  That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find

it out?

EC-7:25  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:

EC-7:26  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.

EC-7:27  Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher,

[counting] one by one,

to find out the account:

EC-7:28  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.

EC-7:29  Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man

upright; but they

have sought out many inventions.

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