📖 Ecclesiastes — Chapter 7 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good Rname is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is Rbetter 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.
Ecclesiastes 7:3 TSorrow Ris better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Ecclesiastes 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Ecclesiastes 7:5 It is Rbetter to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:6 For as the Tcrackling of thorns under a pot, so is Rthe laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 7:7 Surely Roppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and Rthe patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not Rhasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 Say not thou, RWhat is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire Twisely concerning this.
Ecclesiastes 7:11 Wisdom is RTgood with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but Rthe excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Ecclesiastes 7:13 RConsider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Ecclesiastes 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, Rbut in the day of adversity consider: God also hath Tset the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things Rhave 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.
Ecclesiastes 7:16 RBe not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou Tdestroy thyself?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 Be Rnot over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die Tbefore thy time?
Ecclesiastes 7:18 It is Rgood 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.
Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For Rthere is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Ecclesiastes 7:21 Also RTtake no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Ecclesiastes 7:22 For oftentimes Ralso thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Ecclesiastes 7:23 All this have I proved by wisdom: RI said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Ecclesiastes 7:24 RThat which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
Ecclesiastes 7:25 RTI 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:
Ecclesiastes 7:26 And RI find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: Twhoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Ecclesiastes 7:27 Behold, this have I found, Rsaith the preacher, Tcounting one by one, to find out the account:
Ecclesiastes 7:28 Which Ryet 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.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that RGod hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 7:1–10 — Learning from grief and correction
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
A good name, mourning, rebuke, patient endings, and restraint teach wisdom. Nostalgia and quick anger can prevent honest learning from the present.
Key Truth: Learn patiently from correction and grief.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… name is better than precious ointment; and the day of ____ than the day of one’s birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the ____ : this also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 7:6)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:6 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Say not thou, ____ is the cause that the former days were better than …” (Ecclesiastes 7:10)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 7:11–20 — Wisdom without self-righteousness
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Wisdom protects, but life still presents troubling exceptions. Reverence resists both reckless wickedness and pretended moral perfection; no person is sinless.
Key Truth: Seek wisdom with humble reverence.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are …” (Ecclesiastes 7:19)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:19 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Be not ____ over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou …” (Ecclesiastes 7:16)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:16 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For there is not a ____ man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 7:21–29 — Search without self-deception
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Preacher warns against taking every word to heart and reflects on a difficult search. His bitter conclusions belong within the inquiry; the final contrast names God’s upright creation and human inventions.
Key Truth: Examine your own heart humbly.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Also take no heed unto all ____ that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:” (Ecclesiastes 7:21)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:21 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “For oftentimes also thine own ____ knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.” (Ecclesiastes 7:22)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:22 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… this only have I found, that God hath made man ____ ; but they have sought out many inventions.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 7:29 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Romans 3:23 — All have sinned and need God’s grace.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What correction could you receive without defending yourself immediately?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why can the house of mourning instruct the living?
2. What is preferred to the song of fools?
3. What inward quality is preferred to pride?
4. What claim is ruled out by the chapter’s statement about a just man?
5. Why should a hearer be cautious about every insulting word?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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