{"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/wbt/ecclesiastes/7","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-29T23:36:08.140Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WBT","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 maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"Better is the end of a thing than its beginning: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost 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 excellence of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?"},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"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 him."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?"},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldst thou die before thy time?"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:"},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"For often also thy own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast 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 exceedingly 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 pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her."},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:"},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."}],"citation":{"inline":"Ecclesiastes 7 (WBT)","markdown":"[Ecclesiastes 7](https://primebible.com/wbt/ecclesiastes/7)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WBT. https://primebible.com/wbt/ecclesiastes/7 (accessed 2026-05-29)."}}