Ecclesiastes

Questions the meaning of life and the value of worldly pursuits, concluding that fearing God is important.

Chapter 7

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

*A good reputation is more valuable than the finest perfume; and the day someone dies is better than the day they are born.

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.

*Going to a sad place is better than a happy one because everyone ends up there, and the ones still alive will feel it deeply.

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

*It's better to be sad than to laugh, because when you look sad, your heart becomes better.

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

*Wise people's hearts are with those who are sad, while foolish people's hearts are with those who are happy and having fun.

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

*Listening to criticism from smart people is better than listening to foolish songs.

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

*Just like the sound of thorns burning under a pot, the laughter of a foolish person is pointless.

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

*Oppression definitely makes a smart person angry; and a gift can ruin someone's 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.

*It's better to finish something than to start it: and being patient is better than being proud.

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

*Don't get angry quickly: anger stays with foolish people.

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

*Don't say, "Why were the old days better than now?" because you're not being wise in seeking the answer to this question.

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

*Wisdom is beneficial when you have an inheritance, and it brings profits for those who are aware of 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.

*Wisdom protects people and money does too, but the best thing about knowledge is that it brings life to those who have it.

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

*Look at what God does; after all, who can fix what he has messed up?

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.

*Be happy when things are going well, but think carefully during hard times. God has put good and bad times together so that people can't enjoy forever.

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.

*I've witnessed many things during my lifetime. I've observed that even a good person can suffer, while a bad person can live longer.

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

*Don't be too righteous or too smart; why would you ruin yourself?

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

*Don't be excessively evil or foolish. Why would you die before your 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.

*It's good to grasp this firmly and don't let go; because those who fear God will stand out among others.

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

*Wisdom makes someone smarter than having ten strong people in the city.

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

*There isn't a completely fair person on Earth who does only good and doesn't make mistakes.

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

*Don't pay attention to everything people say, or you might hear your servant saying bad things about you.

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

*Often, your own heart knows that you have also cursed others.

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

*I discovered everything through smart thinking: I said, "I'll be wise," but true wisdom was not really with me.

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

*Who can discover something very far away and extremely deep?

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:

*I focused my efforts on learning, exploring, seeking wisdom, understanding why things are the way they are, and knowing the wrongness of foolish behavior. I wanted to understand 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.

*I discover that it's worse than dying to encounter a woman with a tricky heart, who sets traps like nets and binds people with her hands. Those who please God can avoid her, but sinners will fall into her trap.

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

*Look, I discovered this, says the teacher, carefully counting each one, to figure out the total.

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.

*My soul looks for something, but can't find it in a group of one thousand people. I discovered one man who has it, but I haven't found any women with that quality.

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

*I have discovered this truth: God created people to be honest, but they have come up with many different ideas.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes