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Chapter 7
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Verse 1

A [good] name{H8034} is better{H2896} than precious{H2896} oil;{H8081} and the day{H3117} of death,{H4194} than the day{H3117} of one's birth.{H3205}

Verse 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}

Verse 3

Sorrow{H3708} is better{H2896} than laughter;{H7814} for by the sadness{H7455} of the countenance{H6440} the heart{H3820} is made glad.{H3190}

Verse 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}

Verse 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}

Verse 6

For 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}

Verse 7

Surely extortion{H6233} maketh the wise man{H2450} foolish;{H1984} and a bribe{H4979} destroyeth{H6} the understanding.{H3820}

Verse 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}

Verse 9

Be not hasty{H926} in thy spirit{H7307} to be angry;{H3707} for anger{H3708} resteth{H5117} in the bosom{H2436} of fools.{H3684}

Verse 10

Say{H559} not thou, What is the cause that the former{H7223} days{H3117} were better{H2896} than these? for thou dost not inquire{H7592} wisely{H2451} concerning this.

Verse 11

Wisdom{H2451} is as good{H2896} as an inheritance;{H5159} yea, more excellent{H3148} is it for them that see{H7200} the sun.{H8121}

Verse 12

For wisdom{H2451} is a defence,{H6738} even as money{H3701} is a defence;{H6738} but the excellency{H3504} of knowledge{H1847} is, that wisdom{H2451} preserveth the life{H2421} of him that hath{H1167} it.

Verse 13

Consider{H7200} the work{H4639} of God:{H430} for who can{H3201} make that straight,{H8626} which he hath made crooked?{H5791}

Verse 14

In the day{H3117} of prosperity{H2896} be joyful,{H2896} and in the day{H3117} of adversity{H7451} consider;{H7200} yea, God{H430} hath made{H6213} the one side by side{H5980} with the other, to the end{H1700} that man{H120} should not find{H4672} out anything{H3972} [that shall be] after{H310} him.

Verse 15

All this have I seen{H7200} in my days{H3117} of vanity:{H1892} there is{H3426} a righteous{H6662} man that perisheth{H6} in his righteousness,{H6664} and there is a wicked{H7563} man that prolongeth{H748} [his life] in his evil-doing.{H7451}

Verse 16

Be not righteous{H6662} overmuch;{H7235} neither make thyself {H3148} overwise:{H2449} why shouldest thou destroy{H8074} thyself?

Verse 17

Be not overmuch{H7235} wicked,{H7561} neither be thou foolish:{H5530} why shouldest thou die{H4191} before thy time?{H6256}

Verse 18

It is good{H2896} that thou shouldest take hold{H270} of this;{H2088} yea, also from that withdraw{H3240} not thy hand:{H3027} for he that feareth{H3373} God{H430} shall come forth{H3318} from them all.

Verse 19

Wisdom{H2451} is a strength{H5810} to the wise{H2450} man more than ten{H6235} rulers{H7989} that are in a city.{H5892}

Verse 20

Surely there is not a righteous{H6662} man{H120} upon earth,{H776} that doeth{H6213} good,{H2896} and sinneth{H2398} not.

Verse 21

Also take{H5414} not heed{H3820} unto all words{H1697} that are spoken,{H1696} lest thou hear{H8085} thy servant{H5650} curse{H7043} thee;

Verse 22

for oftentimes{H6471} also thine own heart{H3820} knoweth{H3045} that thou thyself likewise hast cursed{H7043} others.{H312}

Verse 23

All this{H2090} have I proved{H5254} in wisdom:{H2451} I said,{H559} I will be wise;{H2449} but it was far{H7350} from me.

Verse 24

That which is, is far off{H7350} and exceeding deep;{H6013} who can find it out?{H4672}

Verse 25

I turned{H5437} about, and my heart{H3820} [was set] to know{H3045} and to search{H8446} out,{H1245} and to seek wisdom{H2451} and the reason{H2808} [of things], and to know{H3045} that wickedness{H7562} is folly,{H3689} and that foolishness{H5531} is madness.{H1947}

Verse 26

And I find{H4672} more bitter{H4751} than death{H4194} the woman{H802} whose heart{H3820} is snares{H4685} and nets,{H2764} [and] whose hands{H3027} are bands:{H612} whoso pleaseth{H2896} God{H430} shall escape{H4422} from her; but the sinner{H2398} shall be taken{H3920} by her.

Verse 27

Behold,{H7200} this have I found,{H4672} saith{H559} the Preacher,{H6953} laying one{H259} thing to another,{H259} to find out{H4672} the account;{H2808}

Verse 28

which my soul{H5315} still seeketh,{H1245} but I have not found:{H4672} one{H259} man{H120} among a thousand{H505} have I found;{H4672} but a woman{H802} among all those have I not found.{H4672}

Verse 29

Behold,{H7200} this only{H905} have I found:{H4672} that God{H430} made{H6213} man{H120} upright;{H3477} but they have sought out{H1245} many{H120} inventions.{H2810}

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Chapter 7
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