Ecclesiastes 7 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Ecclesiastes 8

¹Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

KJVWho is as the wise^H2450 man? and who knoweth^H3045^(H8802) the interpretation^H6592 of a thing^H1697? a man's^H120 wisdom^H2451 maketh his face^H6440 to shine^H215^(H8686), and the boldness^H5797 of his face^H6440 shall be changed^H8132^(H8792).

² I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.

KJVI counsel thee to keep^H8104^(H8798) the king's^H4428 commandment^H6310, and that in regard^H1700 of the oath^H7621 of God^H430.

³ Don’t be hasty to go out of his presence. Don’t persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,

KJVBe not hasty^H926^(H8735) to go out^H3212^(H8799) of his sight^H6440: stand^H5975^(H8799) not in an evil^H7451 thing^H1697; for he doeth^H6213^(H8799) whatsoever pleaseth^H2654^(H8799) him.

⁴ for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

KJVWhere the word^H1697 of a king^H4428 is, there is power^H7983: and who may say^H559^(H8799) unto him, What doest^H6213^(H8799) thou?

⁵ Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.

KJVWhoso keepeth^H8104^(H8802) the commandment^H4687 shall feel^H3045^(H8799) no evil^H7451 thing^H1697: and a wise man's^H2450 heart^H3820 discerneth^H3045^(H8799) both time^H6256 and judgment^H4941.

⁶ For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him.

KJVBecause to every purpose^H2656 there is^H3426 time^H6256 and judgment^H4941, therefore the misery^H7451 of man^H120 is great^H7227 upon him.

⁷ For he doesn’t know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?

KJVFor he knoweth^H3045^(H8802) not that which shall be: for who can tell^H5046^(H8686) him when it shall be?

⁸ There is no man who has power over the spirit to contain the spirit; neither does he have power over the day of death. There is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who practice it.

KJVThere is no man^H120 that hath power^H7989 over the spirit^H7307 to retain^H3607^(H8800) the spirit^H7307; neither hath he power^H7983 in the day^H3117 of death^H4194: and there is no discharge^H4917 in that war^H4421; neither shall wickedness^H7562 deliver^H4422^(H8762) those that are given^H1167 to it.

⁹ All this I have seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

KJVAll this have I seen^H7200^(H8804), and applied^H5414^(H8800) my heart^H3820 unto every work^H4639 that is done^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121: there is a time^H6256 wherein one man^H120 ruleth^H7980^(H8804) over another to his own hurt^H7451.

¹⁰ So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity.

KJVAnd so^H3651 I saw^H7200^(H8804) the wicked^H7563 buried^H6912^(H8803), who had come^H935^(H8804) and gone^H1980^(H8762) from the place^H4725 of the holy^H6918, and they were forgotten^H7911^(H8691) in the city^H5892 where they had so done^H6213^(H8804): this is also vanity^H1892.

¹¹ Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

KJVBecause sentence^H6599 against an evil^H7451 work^H4639 is not executed^H6213^(H8738) speedily^H4120, therefore the heart^H3820 of the sons^H1121 of men^H120 is fully set^H4390^(H8804) in them to do^H6213^(H8800) evil^H7451.

¹² Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.

KJVThough a sinner^H2398^(H8802) do^H6213^(H8802) evil^H7451 an hundred times^H3967, and his days be prolonged^H748^(H8688), yet surely I know^H3045^(H8802) that it shall be well^H2896 with them that fear^H3373 God^H430, which fear^H3372^(H8799) before^H6440 him:

¹³ But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow, because he doesn’t fear God.

KJVBut it shall not be well^H2896 with the wicked^H7563, neither shall he prolong^H748^(H8686) his days^H3117, which are as a shadow^H6738; because he feareth^H3373 not before^H6440 God^H430.

¹⁴ There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

KJVThere is^H3426 a vanity^H1892 which is done^H6213^(H8738) upon the earth^H776; that there be just^H6662 men, unto whom it happeneth^H5060^(H8688) according to the work^H4639 of the wicked^H7563; again, there be^H3426 wicked^H7563 men, to whom it happeneth^H5060^(H8688) according to the work^H4639 of the righteous^H6662: I said^H559^(H8804) that this also^H1571 is vanity^H1892.

¹⁵ Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat, to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

KJVThen I commended^H7623^(H8765) mirth^H8057, because a man^H120 hath no better thing^H2896 under the sun^H8121, than to eat^H398^(H8800), and to drink^H8354^(H8800), and to be merry^H8055^(H8800): for that shall abide^H3867^(H8799) with him of his labour^H5999 the days^H3117 of his life^H2416, which God^H430 giveth^H5414^(H8804) him under the sun^H8121.

¹⁶ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (even though eyes see no sleep day or night),

KJVWhen I applied^H5414^(H8804) mine heart^H3820 to know^H3045^(H8800) wisdom^H2451, and to see^H7200^(H8800) the business^H6045 that is done^H6213^(H8738) upon the earth^H776:(for also there is that neither day^H3117 nor night^H3915 seeth^H7200^(H8802) sleep^H8142 with his eyes^H5869:)

¹⁷ then I saw all the work of God, that man can’t find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won’t find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won’t be able to find it.

KJVThen I beheld^H7200^(H8804) all the work^H4639 of God^H430, that a man^H120 cannot^H3201^(H8799) find out^H4672^(H8800) the work^H4639 that is done^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121: because^H834 though^H7945 a man^H120 labour^H5998^(H8799) to seek it out^H1245^(H8763), yet he shall not find^H4672^(H8799) it; yea further; though a wise^H2450 man think^H559^(H8799) to know^H3045^(H8800) it, yet shall he not be able^H3201^(H8799) to find^H4672^(H8800) it.

WEB·Ecclesiastes 7

¹A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

KJVA good name^H8034 is better^H2896 than precious^H2896 ointment^H8081; and the day^H3117 of death^H4194 than the day^H3117 of one's birth^H3205^(H8736).

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.

KJVIt is better^H2896 to go^H3212^(H8800) to the house^H1004 of mourning^H60, than to go^H3212^(H8800) 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^(H8799) it to his heart^H3820.

³ Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

KJVSorrow^H3708 is better^H2896 than laughter^H7814: for by the sadness^H7455 of the countenance^H6440 the heart^H3820 is made better^H3190^(H8799).

⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

KJVThe 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.

⁵ It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.

KJVIt is better^H2896 to hear^H8085^(H8800) the rebuke^H1606 of the wise^H2450, than for a man^H376 to hear^H8085^(H8802) the song^H7892 of fools^H3684.

⁶ For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

KJVFor 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.

⁷ Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

KJVSurely oppression^H6233 maketh a wise man^H2450 mad^H1984^(H8779); and a gift^H4979 destroyeth^H6^(H8762) the heart^H3820.

⁸ Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

KJVBetter^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.

⁹ Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

KJVBe not hasty^H926^(H8762) in thy spirit^H7307 to be angry^H3707^(H8800): for anger^H3708 resteth^H5117^(H8799) in the bosom^H2436 of fools^H3684.

¹⁰ Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

KJVSay^H559^(H8799) not thou, What is the cause that the former^H7223 days^H3117 were better^H2896 than these? for thou dost not enquire^H7592^(H8804) wisely^H2451 concerning this.

¹¹ Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

KJVWisdom^H2451 is good^H2896 with an inheritance^H5159: and by it there is profit^H3148 to them that see^H7200^(H8802) the sun^H8121.

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.

KJVFor wisdom^H2451 is a defence^H6738, and money^H3701 is a defence^H6738: but the excellency^H3504 of knowledge^H1847 is, that wisdom^H2451 giveth life^H2421^(H8762) to them that have^H1167 it.

¹³ Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?

KJVConsider^H7200^(H8798) the work^H4639 of God^H430: for who can^H3201^(H8799) make that straight^H8626^(H8763), which he hath made crooked^H5791^(H8765)?

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.

KJVIn the day^H3117 of prosperity^H2896 be joyful^H2896, but in the day^H3117 of adversity^H7451 consider^H7200^(H8798): God^H430 also hath set^H6213^(H8804) the one over against^H5980 the other, to the end^H1700 that man^H120 should find^H4672^(H8799) nothing^H3972 after^H310 him.

¹⁵ All this I have 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.

KJVAll things have I seen^H7200^(H8804) in the days^H3117 of my vanity^H1892: there is^H3426 a just^H6662 man that perisheth^H6^(H8802) in his righteousness^H6664, and there is a wicked^H7563 man that prolongeth^H748^(H8688) his life in his wickedness^H7451.

¹⁶ Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

KJVBe not righteous^H6662 over much^H7235^(H8687); neither make thyself over^H3148 wise^H2449^(H8691): why shouldest thou destroy^H8074^(H8709) thyself?

¹⁷ Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

KJVBe not over much^H7235^(H8687) wicked^H7561^(H8799), neither be thou foolish^H5530: why shouldest thou die^H4191^(H8799) before thy time^H6256?

¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

KJVIt is good^H2896 that thou shouldest take hold^H270^(H8799) of this; yea, also from this^H2088 withdraw^H3240^(H8686) not thine hand^H3027: for he that feareth^H3373 God^H430 shall come forth^H3318^(H8799) of them all.

¹⁹ Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

KJVWisdom^H2451 strengtheneth^H5810^(H8799) the wise^H2450 more than ten^H6235 mighty^H7989 men which are in the city^H5892.

²⁰ Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.

KJVFor there is not a just^H6662 man^H120 upon earth^H776, that doeth^H6213^(H8799) good^H2896, and sinneth^H2398^(H8799) not.

²¹ Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

KJVAlso take^H5414^(H8799) no heed^H3820 unto all words^H1697 that are spoken^H1696^(H8762); lest thou hear^H8085^(H8799) thy servant^H5650 curse^H7043^(H8764) thee:

²² for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

KJVFor oftentimes^H6471^H7227 also thine own heart^H3820 knoweth^H3045^(H8804) that thou thyself likewise hast cursed^H7043^(H8765) others^H312.

²³ All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.

KJVAll this^H2090 have I proved^H5254^(H8765) by wisdom^H2451: I said^H559^(H8804), I will be wise^H2449^(H8799); but it was far^H7350 from me.

²⁴ That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

KJVThat which is far off^H7350, and exceeding deep^H6013, who can find it out^H4672^(H8799)?

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.

KJVI applied^H5437^(H8804) mine heart^H3820 to know^H3045^(H8800), and to search^H8446^(H8800), and to seek out^H1245^(H8763) wisdom^H2451, and the reason^H2808 of things, and to know^H3045^(H8800) the wickedness^H7562 of folly^H3689, even of foolishness^H5531 and madness^H1947:

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.

KJVAnd I find^H4672^(H8802) more bitter^H4751 than death^H4194 the woman^H802, whose heart^H3820 is snares^H4685 and nets^H2764, and her hands^H3027 as bands^H612: whoso pleaseth^H2896^H6440 God^H430 shall escape^H4422^(H8735) from her; but the sinner^H2398^(H8802) shall be taken^H3920^(H8735) by her.

²⁷ “Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation

KJVBehold^H7200^(H8798), this have I found^H4672^(H8804), saith^H559^(H8804) the preacher^H6953, counting one^H259 by one^H259, to find out^H4672^(H8800) the account^H2808:

²⁸ which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.

KJVWhich yet my soul^H5315 seeketh^H1245^(H8765), but I find^H4672^(H8804) not: one^H259 man^H120 among a thousand^H505 have I found^H4672^(H8804); but a woman^H802 among all those have I not found^H4672^(H8804).

²⁹ Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”

KJVLo^H7200^(H8798), this only^H905 have I found^H4672^(H8804), that God^H430 hath made^H6213^(H8804) man^H120 upright^H3477; but they have sought out^H1245^(H8765) many^H7227 inventions^H2810.

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Ecclesiastes.