Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name exceeds the value of fine perfume, and the day of someone’s death exceeds the value of ^{a7:1 Lit. death than} the day of his birth.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:1

2 It’s better to attend a funeral ^{b7:2 Lit. house of mourning} than to attend a banquet, ^{c7:2 Lit. house of feasting} for everyone dies eventually, and the living will take this to heart.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:2

3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:3

4 For the wise person thinks carefully when in mourning, but fools focus their thoughts on pleasure.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:4

5 It is better to listen to a wise person’s rebuke than to listen to the praise ^{d7:5 Lit. song} of fools.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:5

6 For as thorns burn to heat a pot, so also is the laughter of the fool— even this is pointless.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:6

7 Unjust gain makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:7

8 The conclusion of something is better than its beginning, and a patient attitude ^{e7:8 Lit. spirit} is more valuable than a proud one. ^{f7:8 Lit. spirit}ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:8

9 Never be in a hurry to become internally angry, since anger settles down in the lap of fools.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:9

10 Never ask “Why does the past ^{g7:10 Lit. the former days} seem so much better than now?” ^{h7:10 Lit. than these} because this question does not come from wisdom.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:10

11 Wise use of possessions is good; it brings benefit to the living. ^{i7:11 Lit. to those who see the sun}ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:11

12 Indeed, wisdom gives protection, ^{j7:12 Or shade} just like money does, but it’s better to know that wisdom gives life, to those who have mastered ^{k7:12 Or acquired} it.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:12

13 Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent?ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:13

14 When times are good, be joyful; when times are bad, consider this: God made the one as well as the other, so people won’t seek anything outside of his best.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:14

15 I have seen it all ^{l7:15 Lit. seen in pointlessness} during my pointless life: both a righteous person who dies while he is righteous, and a wicked person who lives to an old age, while remaining wicked. ^{m7:15 Lit. lives long in his evil}ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:15

16 Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise. Why be self-destructive?ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:16

17 Do not excel at wickedness, nor be a fool. Why die before your time?ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:17

18 It is good for you to grab hold of this and not let go, because whoever fears God will escape all of these extremes. ^{n7:18 The Heb. lacks extremes}ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:18

19 Wisdom given as strength to a wise person is better than having ten powerful men in the city.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:19

20 For there is not a single righteous man on earth who practices good and does not sin.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:20

21 Don’t listen to everything that is spoken— you may hear your servant cursing you,ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:21

22 since you also know how often you have cursed others.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:22

23 I used my wisdom to test all of this. I said, “I want to be wise,” but it was beyond me.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:23

24 Whatever it is, it’s far off and most profound. Who can attain it?ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:24

25 I committed myself to understand, to learn, to search for wisdom and explanations, and to understand both the evil that is foolishness and the stupidity that is delusion.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:25

26 I discovered for myself a bitterness that surpasses that of death: the woman whose heart is full of ^{o7:26 The Heb. lacks full of} snares and nets, whose hands are chains of bondage. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the transgressor will be trapped by her.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:26

27 “Look at this,” says the Teacher. “Linking one thing to another, I reached this conclusion:ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:27

28 Among the things I seek but have not found: one man among a thousand I did find, but I have not found one woman to be wise ^{p7:28 The Heb. lacks to be wise} among all these.ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:28

29 I have discovered only this: God made human beings for righteousness, but they seek many alternatives.”ISV — Ecclesiastes 7:29