Ecclesiastes Chapter 7
From The Open Bible Project
7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one's birth.
- (b) He speaks thus after the judgment of the flesh, which thinks death is the end of all evils, or else because this corporal death is the entering into everlasting life.
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 should take this to heart.
- (c) Where we may see the hand of God and learn to examine our lives.
7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
- (d) Which crackle for a while and profit nothing.
7:7 Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
- (e) A man that is esteemed wise, when he falls to oppression, becomes like a beast.
7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- (f) He notes their lightness who attempt a thing and suddenly leave it off again.
7:9 Don't be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
7:10 Don't say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.
- (g) Murmur not against God when he sends adversities for man’s sins.
7:11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
- (h) He answers to them who do not value wisdom unless riches are joined with it, showing that both are the gifts of God, but that wisdom is far more excellent and may be without riches.
7:12 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.
7:13 Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?
7:14 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.
- (i) Consider why God sends it and what may comfort you.
- (k) That man should be able to control nothing in his works.
7:15 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 evildoing.
- (l) Meaning that cruel tyrants put the godly to death and let the wicked go free.
7:16 Don't be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
- (m) Do not boast too much of your own justice and wisdom.
7:17 Don't be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
- (n) Do not tarry long when you are admonished to come out of the way of wickedness.
7:18 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.
- (o) That is, on these admonitions that go before.
- (p) Consider what desolation and destruction will come, if you do not obey them.
7:19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn't sin.
7:21 Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
- (q) Credit them not, neither care for them.
7:22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
7:23 All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.
7:24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
- (r) Meaning wisdom.
7:25 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.
7:26 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.
7:27 "Behold, I have found this," says the Preacher, "one to another, to find out the scheme;
- (s) That is, to come to a conclusion.
7:28 which my soul still seeks; but I have not found. One man among a thousand have I found; but I have not found a woman among all those.
7:29 Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes."
- (t) And so are cause for their own destruction.
