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Ecclesiastes 7:23-29
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7:23-29
New International Version
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”(A)—
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
who can discover it?(B)
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things(C)
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly.(D)
26 I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare,(E)
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
but the sinner she will ensnare.(F)
27 “Look,” says the Teacher,[a](G) “this is what I have discovered:
“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28 while I was still searching
but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman(H) among them all.
29 This only have I found:
God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:27 Or the leader of the assembly
Ecclesiastes 7:23-29
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 7:23-29
King James Version
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 I applied mine 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:
26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
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.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
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