Ecclesiastes 7

KJV — King James Version Bible (KJV)

NIVUK — New International Version - UK Bible (NIVUK)

Verse 1

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

A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.

Verse 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.

It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.

Verse 3

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

Frustration is better than laughter,
because a sad face is good for the heart.

Verse 4

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

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Verse 5

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

It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.

Verse 6

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

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
so is the laughter of fools.
This too is meaningless.

Verse 7

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

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Verse 8

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

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

Verse 9

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

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Verse 10

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

Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’
For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Verse 11

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

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing
and benefits those who see the sun.

Verse 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.

Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
wisdom preserves those who have it.

Verse 13

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

Consider what God has done:

who can straighten
what he has made crooked?

Verse 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.

When times are good, be happy;
    but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
    as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover
    anything about their future.

Verse 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.

In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

Verse 16

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

Do not be over-righteous,
neither be overwise –
why destroy yourself?

Verse 17

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

Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool –
why die before your time?

Verse 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.

It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.^[a]

Verse 19

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

Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful
than ten rulers in a city.

Verse 20

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

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,
no one who does what is right and never sins.

Verse 21

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

Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you may hear your servant cursing you –

Verse 22

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

for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Verse 23

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

All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

‘I am determined to be wise’–
but this was beyond me.

Verse 24

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

Whatever exists is far off and most profound –
who can discover it?

Verse 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:

So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly.

Verse 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.

I find more bitter than death
    the woman who is a snare,
whose heart is a trap
    and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
    but the sinner she will ensnare.

Verse 27

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

‘Look,’ says the Teacher,^[b] ‘this is what I have discovered:

‘Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things –

Verse 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.

    while I was still searching
    but not finding –
I found one upright man among a thousand,
    but not one upright woman among them all.

Verse 29

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

This only have I found:
God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.’