{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/akjv/ecclesiastes/7","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T22:39:15.603Z"},"reference":{"translation":"AKJV","book":"Ecclesiastes","bookSlug":"ecclesiastes","chapter":7,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":6,"nextChapter":8,"totalChapters":12,"totalVerses":29},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; and a gift destroys the heart."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"Say not you, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?"},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why should you destroy yourself ?"},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before your time?"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"For there is not a just man on earth, that does good, and sins not."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you:"},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others."},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me."},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?"},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"I applied my 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:"},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her."},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"Behold, this have I found, said the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:"},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"Which yet my soul seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found."},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"See, this only have I found, that God has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 7 (AKJV)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 7](https://primebible.com/akjv/ecclesiastes/7)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* AKJV. https://primebible.com/akjv/ecclesiastes/7 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}