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Ecclesiastes 7
Haystack bible commentary"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."
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==Ecclesiastes 7:1:
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A good name is better than precious ointment,
And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; |
This verse highlights the superior value of a lasting reputation and the perspective that death, as the end of a life's journey, can be more significant than birth, which marks the beginning of that journey.
A "good name" refers to a person's character and reputation, which are enduring qualities. Fine perfume, while a luxury in ancient times, is a temporary pleasure. The verse suggests that integrity and a positive legacy last longer and are more valuable than superficial, fleeting possessions. The phrase "day of death" emphasizes the completion of one's life and the fulfillment of their purpose. It suggests that a life well-lived, which results in a good name, makes the day of death, the culmination of that journey, more significant than the beginning of life. This perspective encourages reflecting on the quality and purpose of life rather than just its beginning. |
==Ecclesiastes 7:2:
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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 take it to heart. |
Attending a funeral or a house of mourning offers a more profound opportunity for reflection and wisdom than a house of feasting. By facing the reality of death, which is the common destiny of all people, the living can be reminded of their own mortality and take that truth to heart, ultimately leading to a more purposeful and wise life.
The verse posits that an event centered around death (mourning) is more valuable for personal growth than one focused on celebration (feasting). Attending a house of mourning serves as a stark reminder that death is the universal end for everyone. This encounter with mortality prompts serious contemplation and reflection on life's true meaning and purpose. The verse encourages a sober and reflective perspective on life, contrasting the superficiality of constant celebration with the deep, life-changing wisdom that can be found by confronting our finite nature. |
==Ecclesiastes 7:3:
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Sorrow is better than laughter,
For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. |
While joy might be fleeting, sorrow allows for reflection and can lead to deeper wisdom and understanding. Periods of sadness can prompt introspection, encourage a shift in perspective, and ultimately result in a more profound and enduring joy.
Sorrow can be a more effective teacher than laughter because it compels individuals to pause and reflect on life's deeper meanings, rather than being distracted by amusement. Through sadness and its accompanying introspection, one can gain a more nuanced understanding of life and human experience, leading to a "better" or more uplifted heart. The verse contrasts the wise, who are in the "house of mourning" to grow in wisdom, with fools who remain in the "house of mirth" or pleasure, missing life's deeper lessons. Experiencing sorrow allows for growth and the cultivation of a stronger, more resilient spirit, rather than just temporary happiness. |
==Ecclesiastes 7:4:
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
==Ecclesiastes 7:5:
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
==Ecclesiastes 7:6-28:
For like the crackling of thorns under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,
And a bribe debases the heart.
8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
10 Do not say,
“Why were the former days better than these?”
For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
And profitable to those who see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense,
But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
13 Consider the work of God;
For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful,
But in the day of adversity consider:
Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other,
So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity:
There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness,
And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.
16 Do not be overly righteous,
Nor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overly wicked,
Nor be foolish:
Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you grasp this,
And also not remove your hand from the other;
For he who fears God will escape them all.
19 Wisdom strengthens the wise
More than ten rulers of the city.
20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good
And does not sin.
21 Also do not take to heart everything people say,
Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22 For many times, also, your own heart has known
That even you have cursed others.
23 All this I have proved by wisdom.
I said, “I will be wise”;
But it was far from me.
24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep,
Who can find it out?
25 I applied my heart to know,
To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things,
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,
Whose hands are fetters.
He who pleases God shall escape from her,
But the sinner shall be trapped by her.
27 “Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher,
“Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,
28 Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find:
One man among a thousand I have found,
But a woman among all these I have not found.
So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,
And a bribe debases the heart.
8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
10 Do not say,
“Why were the former days better than these?”
For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
And profitable to those who see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense,
But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
13 Consider the work of God;
For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful,
But in the day of adversity consider:
Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other,
So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity:
There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness,
And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.
16 Do not be overly righteous,
Nor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overly wicked,
Nor be foolish:
Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you grasp this,
And also not remove your hand from the other;
For he who fears God will escape them all.
19 Wisdom strengthens the wise
More than ten rulers of the city.
20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good
And does not sin.
21 Also do not take to heart everything people say,
Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22 For many times, also, your own heart has known
That even you have cursed others.
23 All this I have proved by wisdom.
I said, “I will be wise”;
But it was far from me.
24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep,
Who can find it out?
25 I applied my heart to know,
To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things,
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,
Whose hands are fetters.
He who pleases God shall escape from her,
But the sinner shall be trapped by her.
27 “Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher,
“Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,
28 Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find:
One man among a thousand I have found,
But a woman among all these I have not found.
==Ecclesiastes 7:29:
Truly, this only I have found:
That God made man upright,
But they have sought out many schemes.”
That God made man upright,
But they have sought out many schemes.”