Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes · Chapter 7

Ecclesiastes 7:13

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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
considerרְאֵ֖הre-'EHH7200H
to see: see

רָאָה (ra.ah) : see/show 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, perceive 1a3) to see, have vision 1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out 1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish 1a6) to look at, gaze at 1a7) to provide, choose 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to appear, present oneself 1b2) to be seen 1b3) to be visible 1c) (Pual) to be seen 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to see, show 1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at 1e) (Hophal) …

[the] work ofמַעֲשֵׂ֣הma-'a-SEHH4639G
deed: work

מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) : work/product 1) deed, work 1a) deed, thing done, act 1b) work, labour 1c) business, pursuit 1d) undertaking, enterprise 1e) achievement 1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment) 1g) work, thing made 1h) work (of God) 1i) product

the Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha-'E-lo-HIMH0430G
God

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

forכִּ֣יkiH3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

who?מִ֤יmiH4310
who?

מִי (mi) who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

is he ableיוּכַל֙yu-KHALH3201
be able

יָכֹל (ya.khol) 1) to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be able, be able to gain or accomplish, be able to endure, be able to reach 1a2) to prevail, prevail over or against, overcome, be victor 1a3) to have ability, have strength Aramaic equivalent: ye.khel (יְכִל "be able" H3202)

to straightenלְתַקֵּ֔ןle-ta-KENH8626
be straight

תָּקַן (ta.qan) 1) to equalise, make straight, become straight 1a) (Qal) to become straight 1b) (Piel) to make straight, put straight, arrange in order, set in order 1c) (Hophal) to be established, be reestablished, confirm Aramaic equivalent: te.qan (תְּקַן "to confirm" H8627)

[that] whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a-SHERH0834A
which

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when

he has bent itעִוְּתֽוֹ׃i-ve-TOH5791
to pervert

עָוַת (a.vat) 1) to be bent, be crooked, bend, make crooked, pervert 1a)(Piel) 1a1) to make crooked, falsify, pervert, subvert 1a2) to bend, make crooked 1b) (Pual) thing bent (participle) 1c) (Hithpael) to bend oneself

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.