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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 7:23–29

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
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:
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.
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
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.
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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Reference depth

From verse 23

  1. Romans 1:22Rank 1 from verse 23
    Open

    22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

  2. 1 Corinthians 1:20Rank 2 from verse 23
    Open

    20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  3. Genesis 3:5Rank 3 from verse 23
    Open

    5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

  4. 1 Kings 11:1–8Rank 4 from verse 23
    Open

    1BUT king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

    2Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

    3And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

    4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

    5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

    6And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

    7Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

    8And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

  5. 1 Kings 3:11–12Rank 5 from verse 23
    Open

    11And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

    12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

From verse 24

  1. Romans 11:33Rank 1 from verse 24
    Open

    33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

  2. 1 Timothy 6:16Rank 2 from verse 24
    Open

    16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

  3. Isaiah 55:8–9Rank 3 from verse 24
    Open

    8¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

    9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

  4. Job 28:28Rank 4 from verse 24
    Open

    28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

  5. Psalms 139:6Rank 5 from verse 24
    Open

    6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

From verse 25

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:13Rank 1 from verse 25
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    13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

  2. Joshua 7:13Rank 2 from verse 25
    Open

    13Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

  3. 2 Peter 2:3–9Rank 3 from verse 25
    Open

    3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

    4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

    5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

    6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

    7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

    8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

    9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

  4. 2 Peter 3:3–9Rank 4 from verse 25
    Open

    3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

    4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

    5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

    6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

    7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

    8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

    9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

  5. 2 Samuel 13:12Rank 5 from verse 25
    Open

    12And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

From verse 26

  1. Proverbs 22:14Rank 1 from verse 26
    Open

    14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.

  2. Proverbs 5:3–5Rank 2 from verse 26
    Open

    3¶ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

    4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

    5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

  3. Proverbs 2:16Rank 3 from verse 26
    Open

    16To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

  4. Ecclesiastes 2:26Rank 4 from verse 26
    Open

    26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  5. Proverbs 2:18–19Rank 5 from verse 26
    Open

    18For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

    19None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

From verse 27

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:8–10Rank 1 from verse 27
    Open

    8¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

    9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

    10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

  2. Ecclesiastes 1:1–2Rank 2 from verse 27
    Open

    1THE words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

    2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

From verse 28

  1. Job 33:23Rank 1 from verse 28
    Open

    23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

  2. Psalms 12:1Rank 2 from verse 28
    Open

    1HELP, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

  3. 1 Kings 11:1–3Rank 3 from verse 28
    Open

    1BUT king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

    2Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

    3And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

  4. Ecclesiastes 7:23–24Rank 4 from verse 28
    Open

    23¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

    24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

  5. Isaiah 26:9Rank 5 from verse 28
    Open

    9With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

From verse 29

  1. Jeremiah 4:22Rank 1 from verse 29
    Open

    22For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  2. Genesis 6:11–12Rank 2 from verse 29
    Open

    11The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

    12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

  3. Mark 7:8–9Rank 3 from verse 29
    Open

    8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

    9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

  4. Genesis 5:1Rank 4 from verse 29
    Open

    1THIS is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

  5. Titus 3:3Rank 5 from verse 29
    Open

    3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:23

COMBINED MEANING

proved

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of prove, meaning to test, try, examine, or establish as true by evidence.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wise

↗

Sense 1: Possessing or exercising understanding, knowledge, prudence, judgment, discernment, or skill; also a wise person. Sense 2: In phrases such as in no wise, way, manner, respect, or degree.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:24

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

exceeding

↗

Very great, abundant, intense, extensive, or beyond ordinary measure or degree; exceedingly.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

deep

↗

Sense 1: Great in depth, or a place far beneath the surface. Sense 2: The sea, an abyss of waters, or deep waters. Sense 3: Profound, hidden, or difficult to reach or understand.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:25

COMBINED MEANING

applied

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of apply, meaning to direct or devote oneself; to make use of, request, or have recourse to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

know

↗

To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

search

↗

Sense 1: To seek carefully, examine, explore, or inquire in order to find or know. Sense 2: A careful examination or inquiry made to find or know.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

reason

↗

A ground or cause; understanding or judgment; to think, discuss, or argue.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

madness

↗

Extreme folly; headstrong passion and rashness that act in opposition to reason; Wildness of passion; fury; rage.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:26

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bitter

↗

Having a sharp, unpleasant taste opposed to sweet; grievous, harsh, painful, sorrowful, resentful, or severe in condition, feeling, speech, or effect.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

snares

↗

Sense 1: Devices or stratagems used to catch or entangle. Sense 2: Figuratively, causes of danger, sin, or ruin.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

nets

↗

Sense 1: Open-meshed devices used for catching. Sense 2: By figure, snares or traps.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hands

↗

Sense 1: The end parts of the arms used for holding and working. Sense 2: Figures of power, possession, agency, or aid.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bands

↗

1. Groups or companies, especially of soldiers or raiders. 2. Bonds, cords, restraints, or ties that bind or join.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pleaseth

↗

Sense 1: Gives satisfaction or is agreeable to. Sense 2: Chooses, wills, or sees fit.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

escape

↗

To flee from and avoid; to get out of the way; to shun; to obtain security from; to pass without harm.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

taken

↗

1. Received, accepted, or chosen. 2. Seized or captured. 3. Carried or laid hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:27

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

counting

↗

Sense 1: The act of numbering or calculating. Sense 2: The act of reckoning, regarding, esteeming, or accounting as.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

account

↗

Sense 1: A reckoning, record, report, or explanation. Sense 2: As a verb, to reckon, consider, or give an account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:28

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

soul

↗

Sense 1: A living person or creature; a life or self. Sense 2: The inward self distinguished from the body. Sense 3: The seat of desire or appetite.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:29

COMBINED MEANING

lo

↗

An exclamation meaning look, see, behold, observe, or take notice, used to call immediate attention to what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

upright

↗

1. Honest, just, or morally right; also a person so characterized. 2. Straight, erect, or standing up.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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Surrounding Verses

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22For 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.

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24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

Selected passage

25I 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:

Selected passage

26And 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.

Selected passage

27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

Selected passage

28Which 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.

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29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

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