Ecclesiastes 7
Lutheran reading notes
In Ecclesiastes chapter 7, the wisdom literature continues to explore the meaning of life and reverence for God amid life's vanity. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
A good name {is} better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
{It is} better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that {is} the end of all men; and the living will lay {it} to his heart.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
Sorrow {is} better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. {Sorrow: or, Anger}
Ecclesiastes 7:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
The heart of the wise {is} in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools {is} in the house of mirth.
Ecclesiastes 7:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
{It is} better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so {is} the laughter of the fool: this also {is} vanity. {crackling: Heb. sound}
Ecclesiastes 7:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Ecclesiastes 7:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Better {is} the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: {and} the patient in spirit {is} better than the proud in spirit.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Say not thou, What is {the cause} that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. {wisely: Heb. out of wisdom}
Ecclesiastes 7:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Wisdom {is} good with an inheritance: and {by it there is} profit to them that see the sun. {good...: or, as good as an inheritance, yea, better too}
Ecclesiastes 7:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
For wisdom {is} a defence, {and} money {is} a defence: but the excellency of knowledge {is, that} wisdom giveth life to them that have it. {defence: Heb. shadow}
Ecclesiastes 7:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Consider the work of God: for who can make {that} straight, which he hath made crooked?
Ecclesiastes 7:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
In the day of prosperity be joyful, 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. {set: Heb. made}
Ecclesiastes 7:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
All {things} have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just {man} that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked {man} that prolongeth {his life} in his wickedness.
Ecclesiastes 7:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? {destroy...: Heb. be desolate?}
Ecclesiastes 7:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? {before...: Heb. not in thy time?}
Ecclesiastes 7:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
{It is} good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
Ecclesiastes 7:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty {men} which are in the city.
Ecclesiastes 7:19 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
For {there is} not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: {take...: Heb. give not thine heart}
Ecclesiastes 7:21 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Ecclesiastes 7:22 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it {was} far from me.
Ecclesiastes 7:23 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
Ecclesiastes 7:24 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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: {I applied...: Heb. I and mine heart compassed}
Ecclesiastes 7:25 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {whoso...: Heb. he that is good before God}
Ecclesiastes 7:26 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, {counting} one by one, to find out the account: {counting...: or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason}
Ecclesiastes 7:27 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Ecclesiastes 7:28 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.