Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes · Chapter 7

Ecclesiastes 7:22

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
22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

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
forכִּ֛יkiH3588A
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

alsoגַּם־gam-H1571
also

גַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike

timesפְּעָמִ֥יםpe-'a-MIMH6471
beat

פַּ֫עַם (pa.am) 1) stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence 1a) foot, hoof-beat, footfall, footstep 1b) anvil 1c) occurrence, time, stroke, beat 1c1) one time, once, twice, thrice, as time on time, at this repetition, this once, now at length, now...now, at one time...at another

manyרַבּ֖וֹתra-BOTH7227A
many

רַב (rav) adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly

it knowsיָדַ֣עya-DA'H3045
to know

יָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) …

heart yourלִבֶּ֑ךָli-BE-khaH3820A
mind

בָּל (bal) mind, heart Aramaic of lev (לֵב "heart" H3820A)

thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'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

alsoגַּם־gam-H1571
also

גַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike

youאַתָּ֖ה'atH0859A
you

אַנְתָּה (an.tah) you, thou (second pers. sing.) Aramaic of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

you have cursedקִלַּ֥לְתָּki-LAL-taH7043
to lighten

קָלַל (qa.lal) 1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water) 1a2) to be swift 1a3) to be trifling, be of little account 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift 1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant 1b3) to be lightly esteemed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to make despicable 1c2) to curse 1d) (Pual) to be cursed 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to make light, lighten 1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour 1f) (Pilpel) 1f1) to shake 1f2) to whet 1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

othersאֲחֵרִֽים׃'a-che-RIMH0312
another

אַחֵר (a.cher) 1) another, other, following 1a) following, further 1b) other, different

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