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Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14
New American Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14
New American Standard Bible
10 Whatever (A)exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he (B)cannot dispute with the [a]one who is mightier than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person? 12 For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few [b]years of his futile life? He will [c]spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person (C)what will happen after him under the sun?
Wisdom and Foolishness Contrasted
7 A (D)good name is better than good [d]oil,
And the (E)day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because [e]that is the (F)end of every person,
And the living [f](G)takes it to [g]heart.
3 (H)Sorrow is better than laughter,
For (I)when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
4 The [h]mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the [i]mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5 It is better to (J)listen to the rebuke of a wise person
Than for one to listen to the song of fools.
6 For as the [j]crackling of (K)thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the (L)laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.
7 For (M)oppression makes a wise person look foolish,
And a (N)bribe [k]corrupts the heart.
8 The (O)end of a matter is better than its beginning;
(P)Patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit.
9 Do not be [l](Q)eager in your spirit to be angry,
For anger resides in the [m]heart of fools.
10 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good,
And an (R)advantage to those who see the sun.
12 For (S)wisdom is [n]protection just as money is [o]protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that (T)wisdom keeps its possessors alive.
13 Consider the (U)work of God,
For who is (V)able to straighten what He has bent?
14 (W)On the day of prosperity be happy,
But (X)on the day of adversity consider:
God has made the one as well as the other
So that a person will (Y)not discover anything that will come after him.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 Or Him who
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 Lit days
- Ecclesiastes 6:12 Lit do
- Ecclesiastes 7:1 I.e., olive oil
- Ecclesiastes 7:2 I.e., death
- Ecclesiastes 7:2 Lit gives
- Ecclesiastes 7:2 Lit his heart
- Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart
- Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart
- Ecclesiastes 7:6 Lit voice
- Ecclesiastes 7:7 Lit destroys
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Lit hasty
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Lit chest
- Ecclesiastes 7:12 Lit in a shadow
- Ecclesiastes 7:12 Lit in a shadow
Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14
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)
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.