Ecclesiastes7
New King James Version
1A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;
2Better 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 take it to heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad 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 like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart.
8The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
10Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.
12For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
13Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
15I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.
16Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?
17Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
18It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.
19Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.
20For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.
21Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.
23All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; But it was far from me.
24As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out?
25I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, 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, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her.
27“Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,
28Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, But a woman among all these I have not found.
29Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ecclesiastes 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The benefit of a good name; of death above life; of sorrow above vain mirth. (1-6). Concerning oppression, anger, and discontent. (7-10). Advantages of wisdom. (11-22). Experience of the evil of sin. (23-29).
vv1-6
Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world. It will do more good to go to a funeral than to a feast. We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion; our Saviour both feasted at the wedding of his friend in Cana, and wept at the grave of his friend in Bethany. But, considering how apt we are to be vain and indulge the flesh, it is best to go to the house of mourning, to learn the end of man as to this world. Seriousness is better than mirth and jollity. That is best for us which is best for our souls, though it be unpleasing to sense. It is better to have our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise, than to have them gratified by the song of fools. The laughter of a fool is soon gone, the end of his mirth is heaviness.
vv7-10
The event of our trials and difficulties is often better than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have more reason to cry out for the badness of our own hearts; and even in these times we enjoy many mercies. It is folly to cry up the goodness of former times; as if former ages had not the like things to complain of that we have: this arises from discontent, and aptness to quarrel with God himself.
vv11-22
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no, not by a zeal for God. Be not conceited of thine own abilities; nor find fault with every thing, nor busy thyself in other men's matters. Many who will not be wrought upon by the fear of God, and the dread of hell, will avoid sins which ruin their health and estate, and expose to public justice. But those that truly fear God, have but one end to serve, therefore act steadily. If we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves. Every true believer is ready to say, God be merciful to me a sinner. Forget not at the same time, that personal righteousness, walking in newness of life, is the only real evidence of an interest by faith in the righteousness of the Redeemer. Wisdom teaches us not to be quick in resenting affronts. Be not desirous to know what people say; if they speak well of thee, it will feed thy pride, if ill, it will stir up thy passion. See that thou approve thyself to God and thine own conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee; it is easier to pass by twenty affronts than to avenge one. When any harm is done to us, examine whether we have not done as bad to others.
Key Words
טוֹב: 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)
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
שֶׁמֶן: grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
יוֹם: 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)
מָוֶת: death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֵבֶל: lamentation
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 7Solomon's personal history of being led astray by many strange women directly informs this warning.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the opening proverb: a good name/repute is far more valuable than riches or ointment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Uses the identical, vivid Hebrew wordplay/metaphor of thorns under a pot representing the wicked's end.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates how present sadness and affliction work for the believer a far better internal, eternal good.
Supported by JFB
Confirms it is far better to receive the faithful, beneficial rebuke of a righteous wise person.
Supported by JFB
Connects true, life-giving wisdom to the knowledge of God that preserves and gives eternal life.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the rhetorical question: none can make straight or rebuild what God has bent or broken down.
Supported by JFB
Solomon's own temple dedication prayer matches the assertion that there is no man who does not sin.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal parallel showing how a bribe (gift) blinds the eyes of the wise and destroys the heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Points to the patience of Job and the end intended by the Lord, illustrating patience in adversity.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the rhetorical query about the unsearchable depth of God's wisdom and sovereign government.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Theological parallel regarding the unsearchable depth of God's wisdom, judgments, and ways.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts man's original upright creation in God's image with his subsequent fall into many inventions.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament parallel affirming that the day of a godly person's death is indeed far better.
Supported by JFB