Ecclesiastes 7

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Ref Better `is' a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.

2 Ref Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth `it' unto his heart.

3 Ref Better `is' sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.

4 Ref The heart of the wise `is' in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.

5 Ref Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than `for' a man to hear a song of fools,

6 Ref For as the noise of thorns under the pot, So `is' the laughter of a fool, even this `is' vanity.

7 Ref Surely oppression maketh the wise mad, And a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 Ref Better `is' the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better `is' the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit.

9 Ref Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, For anger in the bosom of fools resteth.

10 Ref Say not thou, `What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.

11 Ref Wisdom `is' good with an inheritance, And an advantage `it is' to those beholding the sun.

12 Ref For wisdom `is' a defense, money `is' a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom `is', She reviveth her possessors.

13 Ref See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?

14 Ref In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything after him.

15 Ref The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging `himself' in his wrong.

16 Ref Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

17 Ref Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time?

18 Ref `It is' good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.

19 Ref The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.

20 Ref Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.

21 Ref Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee.

22 Ref For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.

23 Ref All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it `is' far from me.

24 Ref Far off `is' that which hath been, and deep, deep, who doth find it?

25 Ref I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the madness.

26 Ref And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart `is' nets and snares, her hands `are' bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.

27 Ref See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason

28 Ref (that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found.

29 Ref See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they -- they have sought out many devices.

World English Bible (WEB)

1 Ref A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one's birth.

2 Ref 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 Ref Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

4 Ref The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 Ref It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 Ref For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

7 Ref Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

8 Ref Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Ref Don't be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Ref Don't say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.

11 Ref Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

12 Ref 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 Ref Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?

14 Ref 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 Ref All this have I 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 evil-doing.

16 Ref Don't be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

17 Ref Don't be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

18 Ref It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don't withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.

19 Ref Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 Ref Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn't sin.

21 Ref Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

22 Ref for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

23 Ref All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.

24 Ref That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

25 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref Behold, this have I found, says the Preacher, one to another, to find out the scheme;

28 Ref which my soul still seeks; but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

29 Ref Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.

King James Version (KJV)

1 Ref A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2 Ref 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 Ref Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 Ref The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 Ref It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 Ref For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

7 Ref Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 Ref Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Ref Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 Ref Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11 Ref Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

12 Ref 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.

13 Ref Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

14 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?

17 Ref Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18 Ref 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 Ref Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 Ref For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21 Ref Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

22 Ref For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 Ref All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

24 Ref That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

28 Ref 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 Ref Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Chapter 7 of 12

Begin Your Journey of Faith

We all start at different points in our walk with Christ. No matter where you are, we're here to support you as you grow in faith.

Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior

If you haven’t made the decision to follow Jesus yet, we want to walk with you as you discover the new life He offers.

Read "A Truly Free Gift"

What Guides Our Walk With Christ

Discover the biblical truths and core beliefs that shape how we live, serve, and walk faithfully with Christ each day.

Explore Our Beliefs

Join a Community of Believers

Don’t walk through life alone. Find others to connect with, whether in person or online, and grow together in Christ.

Discover Where We Meet