Ecclesiastes Chapter 7

2 As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

3 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?

4 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.

5 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.

6 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.

7 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth

8 him in the joy of his heart.

9 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

10 a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

11 If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:

12 for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

13 moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:

14 yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?

15 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

16 For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool?

17 or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

18 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

19 Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

20 Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

21 For who knoweth what is good for man in

22 his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

23 good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.

24 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.

25 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

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

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

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

29 Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

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: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.

3 Vexation 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 in the house of mirth.

5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than 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 its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

13 Consider the work ofGod; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider:God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.

15 All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.

16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 Be not overmuch 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 that withdraw not thy hand: for he that fearethGod cometh forth from them all.

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.

20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

21 Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.

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

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

24 Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?

25 I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;

26 and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleasethGod shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27 See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;

28 which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.

29 Only see this which I have found: thatGod made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.

2 [It 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.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be 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 a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

7 For oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

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

10 Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

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

12 For 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.

13 Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

14 In 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.

15 I 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.

16 Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

17 Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

18 It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].

19 Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin.

21 Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.

22 For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.

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

24 [That which is] far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

25 I 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.

26 And 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.

27 Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,

28 which 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.

29 But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices. Who knows the wise? and who knows the interpretation of a saying?

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Quid necesse est homini maiora se quærere, cum ignoret quid conducat sibi in vita sua numero dierum peregrinationis suæ, et tempore, quod velut umbra præterit? Aut quis ei poterit indicare quod post eum futurum sub sole sit?

2 Melius est nomen bonum, quam unguenta pretiosa: et dies mortis die nativitatis.

3 Melius est ire ad domum luctus, quam ad domum convivii: in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.

4 Melior est ira risu: quia per tristitiam vultus, corrigitur animus delinquentis.

5 Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.

6 Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi.

7 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti: sed et hoc vanitas.

8 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.

9 Melior est finis orationis, quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.

10 Ne sis velox ad irascendum: quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.

11 Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est huiuscemodi interrogatio.

12 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.

13 Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia. hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.

14 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.

15 In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave. sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum iustas querimonias.

16 Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: Iustus perit in iustitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.

17 Noli esse iustus multum: neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.

18 Ne impie agas multum: et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.

19 Bonum est te sustentare iustum, sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam: quia qui timet Deum, nihil negligit.

20 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis.

21 Non est enim homo iustus in terra, qui faciat bonum, et non peccet.

22 Sed et cunctis sermonibus, qui dicuntur, ne accomodes cor tuum: ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi.

23 scit enim conscientia tua, quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.

24 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me

25 multo magis quam erat: et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?

26 Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem, et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem: et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:

27 et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor eius, vincula sunt manus illius. qui placet Deo, effugiet illam: qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa.

28 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum, ut invenirem rationem,

29 quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi, mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.

30 Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quæstionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better 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 should take this to heart.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 Better <FI>is<Fi> a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.

2 Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth <FI>it<Fi> unto his heart.

3 Better <FI>is<Fi> sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.

4 The heart of the wise <FI>is<Fi> in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.

5 Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than <FI>for<Fi> a man to hear a song of fools,

6 For as the noise of thorns under the pot, So <FI>is<Fi> the laughter of a fool, even this <FI>is<Fi> vanity.

7 Surely oppression maketh the wise mad, And a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 Better <FI>is<Fi> the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better <FI>is<Fi> the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit.

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

10 Say not thou, `What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.

11 Wisdom <FI>is<Fi> good with an inheritance, And an advantage <FI>it is<Fi> to those beholding the sun.

12 For wisdom <FI>is<Fi> a defense, money <FI>is<Fi> a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom <FI>is<Fi> , She reviveth her possessors.

13 See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?

14 In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything after him.

15 The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging <FI>himself<Fi> in his wrong.

16 Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

17 Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time?

18 <FI> It is<Fi> good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.

19 The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.

20 Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.

21 Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee.

22 For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.

23 All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it <FI>is<Fi> far from me.

24 Far off <FI>is<Fi> that which hath been, and deep, deep, who doth find it?

25 I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the madness.

26 And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart <FI>is<Fi> nets and snares, her hands <FI>are<Fi> bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.

27 See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason

28 (that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found.

29 See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they--they have sought out many devices.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).