Ecclesiastes 7 — LXXSB
7Verse 1What advantage has a man? for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?Verse 2A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.Verse 3It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good warning to his heart.Verse 4Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.Verse 5The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.Verse 6It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.Verse 7As the sound of thorns under a cauldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.Verse 8for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.Verse 9The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.Verse 10Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.Verse 11Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for you do not enquire in wisdom concerning this.Verse 12Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun.Verse 13For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.Verse 14Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?Verse 15In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say, God also has caused the one to agree with the other for this reason, that man should find nothing after him.Verse 16I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.Verse 17Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.Verse 18Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.Verse 19It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.Verse 20Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.Verse 21For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sinVerse 22Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest you hear your servant cursing you.Verse 23For many times he shall trespass against you, and repeatedly shall he afflict your heart; for thus also have you cursed others.Verse 24All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.Verse 25That which is far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?Verse 26I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account of things, and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.Verse 27And I find her to be, and I will pronounce to be more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, who has a band in her hands: he that is good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.Verse 28Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, seeking by one at a time to find out the account,Verse 29which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have not found.Verse 30But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.