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Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:24
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:24
English Standard Version
10 Whatever has come to be has (A)already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to (B)dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his (C)vain[a] life, which he passes like (D)a shadow? For who can tell man what will be (E)after him under the sun?
The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly
7 (F)A good name is better than precious ointment,
and (G)the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will (H)lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
(I)for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is (J)better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 (K)For as the crackling of (L)thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.[b]
7 Surely (M)oppression drives the wise into madness,
and (N)a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and (O)the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 (P)Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
(Q)for anger lodges in the heart[c] of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who (R)see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like (S)the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that (T)wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider (U)the work of God:
(V)who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 (W)In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, (X)so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
15 In my (Y)vain[d] life I have seen everything. There is (Z)a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who (AA)prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not (AB)make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. (AC)Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of (AD)this, and from (AE)that (AF)withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
19 (AG)Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 Surely (AH)there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear (AI)your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that (AJ)many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I have tested by wisdom. (AK)I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and (AL)deep, very deep; (AM)who can find it out?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 7:6 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Hebrew in the bosom
- Ecclesiastes 7:15 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:24
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:24
New International Version
10 Whatever exists has already been named,(A)
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
11 The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days(B) they pass through like a shadow?(C) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Wisdom
7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(D)
and the day of death better than the day of birth.(E)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(F) is the destiny(G) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(H)
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(I)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(J) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(K) under the pot,
so is the laughter(L) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe(M) corrupts the heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience(N) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(O) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.(P)
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(Q) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing(R)
and benefits those who see the sun.(S)
12 Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider what God has done:(T)
Who can straighten
what he has made crooked?(U)
14 When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.(V)
Therefore, no one can discover
anything about their future.
15 In this meaningless life(W) of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.(X)
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?(Y)
18 It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God(Z) will avoid all extremes.[a]
20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,(AC)
no one who does what is right and never sins.(AD)
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you(AE) may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Or will follow them both
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.