Ecclesiastes 7 ISV BSB Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 7 ►

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Berean Study Bible

1A good name exceeds the value of fine perfume, and the day of someone's death exceeds the value of the day of his birth.

1A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.

2It's better to attend a funeral than to attend a banquet, for everyone dies eventually, and the living will take this to heart.

2It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

3Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.

3Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.

4For the wise person thinks carefully when in mourning, but fools focus their thoughts on pleasure.

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

5It is better to listen to a wise person's rebuke than to listen to the praise of fools.

5It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

6For as thorns burn to heat a pot, so also is the laughter of the fool— even this is pointless.

6For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.

7Unjust gain makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

7Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8The conclusion of something is better than its beginning, and a patient attitude is more valuable than a proud one.

8The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.

9Never be in a hurry to become internally angry, since anger settles down in the lap of fools.

9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.

10Never ask "Why does the past seem so much better than now?" because this question does not come from wisdom.

10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.

11Wise use of possessions is good; it brings benefit to the living.

11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.

12Indeed, wisdom gives protection, just like money does, but it's better to know that wisdom gives life, to those who have mastered it.

12For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

13Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent?

13Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?

14When times are good, be joyful; when times are bad, consider this: God made the one as well as the other, so people won't seek anything outside of his best.

14In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

15I have seen it all during my pointless life: both a righteous person who dies while he is righteous, and a wicked person who lives to an old age, while remaining wicked.

15In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

16Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise. Why be self-destructive?

16Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

17Do not excel at wickedness, nor be a fool. Why die before your time?

17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

18It is good for you to grab hold of this and not let go, because whoever fears God will escape all of these extremes.

18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

19Wisdom given as strength to a wise person is better than having ten powerful men in the city.

19Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

20For there is not a single righteous man on earth who practices good and does not sin.

20Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

21Don't listen to everything that is spoken— you may hear your servant cursing you,

21Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

22since you also know how often you have cursed others.

22For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23I used my wisdom to test all of this. I said, "I want to be wise," but it was beyond me.

23All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

24Whatever it is, it's far off and most profound. Who can attain it?

24What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

25I committed myself to understand, to learn, to search for wisdom and explanations, and to understand both the evil that is foolishness and the stupidity that is delusion.

25I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

26I discovered for myself a bitterness that surpasses that of death: the woman whose heart is full of snares and nets, whose hands are chains of bondage. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the transgressor will be trapped by her.

26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

27"Look at this," says the Teacher. "Linking one thing to another, I reached this conclusion:

27“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.

28Among the things I seek but have not found: one man among a thousand I did find, but I have not found one woman to be wise among all these.

28While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.

29I have discovered only this: God made human beings for righteousness, but they seek many alternatives."

29Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

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