Ecclesiastes
King James Version (KJV)
ECCLESIASTES 7 Parallel KJV
and 1611 King James Version
| < Previous |
Next > |
KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
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.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
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.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
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.
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.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
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.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
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:
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.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
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.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
1 A Good name is better then precious ointment: and the day of death, then the day of ones birth.
2 ¶ It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the liuing will lay it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better then laughter: for by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better to heare the rebuke of the wise, then for a man to heare the song of fooles.
6 For as the crackling of thornes vnder a pot, so is the laughter of the foole: this also is vanitie.
7 ¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Better is the ende of a thing then the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better then the proude in spirit.
9 Be not hastie in thy spirit to bee angry: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former dayes were better then these? For thou doest not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 ¶ Wisedome is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profite to them that see the sunne.
12 For wisedome is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellencie of knowledge is, that wisedome giueth life to them that haue it.
13 Consider the worke of God: for who can make that straight, which hee hath made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperitie be ioyfull, but in the day of aduersitie consider: God also hath set the one ouer against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15 All things haue I seene in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his righteousnes, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednes.
16 Be not righteous ouer much, neither make thy selfe ouer wise: why shouldest thou destroy thy selfe?
17 Be not ouermuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take holde of this, yea also from this withdraw not thine hand: for hee that feareth God, shall come foorth of them all.
19 Wisedome strengtheneth the wise, more then ten mightie men which are in the citie.
20 For there is not a iust man vpon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Also take no heede vnto all words that are spoken; lest thou heare thy seruant curse thee.
22 For often times also thine owne heart knoweth, that thou thy selfe likewise hast cursed others.
23 ¶ All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I said, I will be wise, but it was farre from me.
24 That which is farre off, and exceeding deepe, who can finde it out?
25 I applyed mine heart to know, and to search, and to seeke out wisdome, and the reason of things, aud to know the wickednes of folly, euen of foolishnesse and madnesse.
26 And I finde more bitter then death, the woman whose heart is snares & nets, and her handes as bands: who so pleaseth God, shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Behold, this haue I found (saith the Preacher) counting one by one to finde out the account:
28 Which yet my soule seeketh, but I finde not: one man among a thousand haue I found, but a woman among all those haue I not found.
29 Loe, this onely haue I found, that God hath made man vpright: but they haue sought out many inuentions.