---
title: Joseph Smith Translation (1867 edition)
description: Ecclesiastes from the Joseph Smith Translation (JST), 1867 edition.
authors:
  - Smith, Joseph, Jr.
collections:
  - joseph-smith
tags:
  - translation
published: "1867"
publisher: RLDS Publication Board
publisher_place: Plano, Illinois
publisher_note: "The title page reads: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Joseph Smith, I. L. Rogers, E. Robinson, Publishing Committee; 1867."
edition: First edition (Plano, 1867)
language: en
type: book
chapter: 7
verse_count: 29
reference: "Joseph Smith Jr., *Joseph Smith Translation*, first edition (Plano, IL: RLDS Publication Board, 1867), Ecclesiastes, chap. 7, https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  identifier: holyscripturestr00smituoft
  scan: University of Toronto / Trinity College Library copy, Internet Archive
  transcription: "OCR text of the 1867 scans (Toronto copy and a second copy, holyscriptures00smit), reconciled word by word; Romans was also checked against the page images. Method, per-chapter validation log and known limits: docs/jst-1867-import.md."
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: 1867 US publication
  source: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  publication_year: 1867
---

# Ecclesiastes 7

**1** A GOOD name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
**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.
**3** Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
**4** The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
**5** It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools;
**6** For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.
**7** Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
**8** Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
**9** Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
**10** Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
**11** Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
**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.
**13** Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
**14** In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider; God also hath set the 'me over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
**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.
**16** Be not righteous over much, neither make thyself over wise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
**17** Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?
**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.
**19** Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
**20** For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
**21** Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
**22** For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
**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. ECCLESIASTEb.