Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7:1

And the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

The day of a good and faithful man’s death, is much better than the day of his birth; for his death puts an end to those miseries which his birth begins, and begins those happinesses, which the present life is not capable of.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

For that is the end of all men: and the living will lay it to his heart.

For that death, which is the occasion of such mourning, is the end of all men; and those, that are wise amongst the living, will carefully bethink themselves of it, and make due preparation for it.

Ecclesiastes 7:6

As the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of fools.

A fire of thorns under a pot makes a loud noise with the crackling thereof for a time, but the blaze is soon out; so doth the mirth and laughter of a fool: after some short semblance of joy, it vanisheth to nothing.

Ecclesiastes 7:7

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

Extremity of oppression is enough to distemper a very wise man; and bribes are enough to corrupt and destroy the heart of him that receives them.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

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

There is much doubt and uncertainty in the beginning of things,

Ecclesiastes 7:9

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

Do not give way to a rash and sudden anger; for this techy and choleric disposition argues much folly and misgovernment in the man that is swayed with it.

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Say not thou, What is the cause why the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

Be not thou discontentedly querulous at the present condition; as, to complain how bad these times are, in respect of the former; and to murmur at the Providence of God, as if there were some slackness or neglect therein; for this is a foolish thought of thine, and an unjust: rather do thou, in an humble thankfulness and submission, make use of the present.

Ecclesiastes 7:11

Wisdom is good with an inheritance.

If a man have a great estate, and wisdom to use it, he may do great matters, and is very happy therein.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

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

Many a one hath been preserved by his wisdom, and many have been preserved by their money, so as both together must needs be an excellent defence; but, if they must be severed, wisdom and knowledge must needs be the better, as that which both can safeguard the present life, and give a better unto the owner of it.

Ecclesiastes 7:13

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

Do not complain of times and events, but consider well the wise and just and powerful proceedings of God; for when he hath thought good, for the punishment of men’s sins, to give them up to disorder and perverseness, it is not in the power of human means to rectify them.

Ecclesiastes 7:14

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.

In the day of adversity, bethink thyself of the author of thine affliction, and of the manifold grounds of patience which God hath laid before thee; for God hath given interchanges of welfare and adversity, that man might find no just cause to complain of his proceedings. VOL. III. T

Ecclesiastes 7:15

There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness.

There is a just and innocent man that miscarrieth, notwithstanding his righteousness, through the cruelty and injustice of oppressors.

Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much: neither make thyself over wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?

Be not thou too rigid and rigorous, in exacting the extremity of justice upon every occasion: neither do thou affect too much semblance and ostentation of more justice and perfection, than thou hast, or canst attain: neither do thou arrogate more wisdom to thyself, than is in thee; nor curiously seek and search into those mysteries, which God would not have revealed: for why shouldst thou bring upon thee the displeasure and judgments of God, by this proud and sinful affectation?

Ecclesiastes 7:17

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

As I would not have thee too just, and too wise, so I would not have thee run into the other extreme: every degree of wickedness is too much: do not let thyself loose to any evil; neither yield thyself over to a willing ignorance and foolish neglect of wisdom: for why shouldst thou provoke God to hasten his just judgments upon thee, to thine untimely destruction?

Ecclesiastes 7:18

It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

It is good and sure, to walk in a mean betwixt both these extremes; so to beware of severity, and too much profession of wisdom, that thou neglect not the other charge of avoiding looseness and folly: he, that feareth God, shall by him be kept in a holy mean, betwixt both these sinful and dangerous excesses.

Ecclesiastes 7:21

Also take no heed unto all the words that are spoken: lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.

He, that would live in peace, must put up many injuries, especially of the tongue: be not too eagerly inquisitive after the words that are spoken concerning thee, lest thou hear those of thine own family speak evil of thee.

Ecclesiastes 7:23

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

I thought to make all these observations and experiments, and made account to gain a great measure of wisdom; but the more I knew, the less I was satisfied, and the more I found that I wanted.

Ecclesiastes 7:24

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

So deep is wisdom hid, and so far off from our reach, that it is not in the power of man to find it out;

Ecclesiastes 7:26

And I find more bitter than death the woman whose, &c.

And I have found, by woeful experience, the mischief and deadliness of an alluring beauty, &c.

Ecclesiastes 7:27

Counting one by one, to make up the account :

Curiously searching and examining of both sexes, as it were, by the pole, one by one, to give a just account of the estate of them both.

Ecclesiastes 7:28

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.

Which yet still I do earnestly seek; but find no cause to alter my judgment herein: this I profess to be the issue of all my inquisition; that, though it be very rare and hard to find one good of either sex, yet more difficult and strange to find such a one in that weaker sex: a good man is rare, but a good woman more.

Ecclesiastes 7:29

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

Now this pravity and corruption, which I find in both sexes, I do not cast upon their first creation: no; rather I do herein justify God, as finding and professing that it pleased him to make man holy and upright: all our depravation is from ourselves; our first parents created in perfect innocency, would needs follow the devices of their own hearts, and the suggestions of the common enemy, and we their sinful posterity do nothing but devise further means of our own ruin.