Ecclesiastes 7 - Meaning, Themes & Application

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

" 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. "

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

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

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

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

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

" Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. "

Ecclesiastes 7:8 means that how something ends matters more than how it starts, and patience beats pride. Good things often take time to grow. For …

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

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

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

" For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have "

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

" 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 "

" 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. "

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

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

" 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 "

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

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

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

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

" All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far "

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

" 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: "

" 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 "

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

" 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. "

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