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Ecclesiastes 7

Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.

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The text

1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2It 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.

3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

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

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

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

7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

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

14In 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.

15All 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.

16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18It 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.

19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

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

24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25I 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:

26And 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.

27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

28Which 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.

29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Words in this chapter

Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.

  • טוֹבṭôwbH289614× in this chapter

    good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)

  • אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH83411× in this chapter

    who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.

  • כִּיkîyH358810× in this chapter

    (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

  • אֵתʼêthH85310× in this chapter

    properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

  • לֵבlêbH38209× in this chapter

    the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything

  • מָצָאmâtsâʼH46729× in this chapter

    properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

  • זֶהzehH20888× in this chapter

    the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

  • אַלʼalH4088× in this chapter

    not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

  • הָיָהhâyâhH19617× in this chapter

    to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

  • חׇכְמָהchokmâhH24517× in this chapter

    wisdom (in a good sense)

  • לֹאlôʼH38087× in this chapter

    not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

  • גַּםgamH15716× in this chapter

    properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

  • יוֹםyôwmH31176× in this chapter

    a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

  • כֹּלkôlH36056× in this chapter

    properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

  • רָאָהrâʼâhH72006× in this chapter

    to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

  • אָדָםʼâdâmH1205× in this chapter

    ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

  • אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîymH4305× in this chapter

    gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

  • בַּיִתbayithH10044× in this chapter

    a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

  • חָכָםchâkâmH24504× in this chapter

    wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)

  • כְּסִילkᵉçîylH36844× in this chapter

    properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly

  • מָהmâhH41004× in this chapter

    properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses

  • בָּקַשׁbâqashH12453× in this chapter

    to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

  • הוּאhûwʼH19313× in this chapter

    he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are

  • אֶחָדʼechâdH2593× in this chapter

    properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first

  • יָדַעyâdaʻH30453× in this chapter

    to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)

  • אֵלʼêlH4133× in this chapter

    near, with or among; often in general, to

  • אָמַרʼâmarH5593× in this chapter

    to say (used with great latitude)

  • עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62133× in this chapter

    to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

  • צַדִּיקtsaddîyqH66623× in this chapter

    just

  • רוּחַrûwachH73073× in this chapter

    wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)

  • שָׁמַעshâmaʻH80853× in this chapter

    to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

  • דָּבָרdâbârH16972× in this chapter

    a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

  • הֶבֶלhebelH18922× in this chapter

    emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb

  • הָלַךְhâlakH19802× in this chapter

    to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

  • חָטָאchâṭâʼH23982× in this chapter

    properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

  • חָכַםchâkamH24492× in this chapter

    to be wise (in mind, word or act)

  • חֶשְׁבּוֹןcheshbôwnH28082× in this chapter

    properly, contrivance; by implication, intelligence

  • יָדyâdH30272× in this chapter

    a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),

  • יוֹתֵרyôwthêrH31482× in this chapter

    properly, redundant; hence, over and above, as adjective, noun, adverb or conjunction

  • יֵשׁyêshH34262× in this chapter

    there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)

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