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VERSESCOPE

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Ecclesiastes 7

Highlighted words differ from the KJV. Most differences are matters of wording, style or the age of the English, not of meaning; a few reflect different manuscripts.

  1. 1
    KJVA good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
    WEBA good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
  2. 2
    KJVIt 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.
    WEBIt 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 should take this to heart.
  3. 3
    KJVSorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
    WEBSorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
  4. 4
    KJVThe heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
    WEBThe heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
  5. 5
    KJVIt is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
    WEBIt is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.
  6. 6
    KJVFor as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
    WEBFor as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
  7. 7
    KJVSurely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
    WEBSurely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
  8. 8
    KJVBetter is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
    WEBBetter is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
  9. 9
    KJVBe not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
    WEBDon’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
  10. 10
    KJVSay not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
    WEBDon’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.
  11. 11
    KJVWisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
    WEBWisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
  12. 12
    KJVFor wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
    WEBFor wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
  13. 13
    KJVConsider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
    WEBConsider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?
  14. 14
    KJVIn 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.
    WEBIn the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
  15. 15
    KJVAll 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.
    WEBAll this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.
  16. 16
    KJVBe not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
    WEBDon’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
  17. 17
    KJVBe not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
    WEBDon’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
  18. 18
    KJVIt 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.
    WEBIt is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.
  19. 19
    KJVWisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
    WEBWisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
  20. 20
    KJVFor there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
    WEBSurely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.
  21. 21
    KJVAlso take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
    WEBAlso don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
  22. 22
    KJVFor oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
    WEBfor often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
  23. 23
    KJVAll this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
    WEBAll this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.
  24. 24
    KJVThat which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
    WEBThat which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
  25. 25
    KJVI 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:
    WEBI turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
  26. 26
    KJVAnd 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.
    WEBI find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
  27. 27
    KJVBehold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
    WEB“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation
  28. 28
    KJVWhich 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.
    WEBwhich my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.
  29. 29
    KJVLo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
    WEBBehold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”
  • King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom, where Crown letters patent apply.
  • World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.