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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 7:6–8

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

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

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 6

  1. Psalms 118:12Rank 1 from verse 6
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    12They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

  2. Psalms 58:9Rank 2 from verse 6
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    9Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

  3. Ecclesiastes 2:2Rank 3 from verse 6
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    2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

  4. Luke 6:25Rank 4 from verse 6
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    25Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

  5. 2 Peter 2:13–17Rank 5 from verse 6
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    13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

    14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

    15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

    16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

    17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

From verse 7

  1. Deuteronomy 16:19Rank 1 from verse 7
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    19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

  2. Exodus 23:8Rank 2 from verse 7
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    8¶ And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

  3. Proverbs 17:23Rank 3 from verse 7
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    23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

  4. 1 Samuel 8:3Rank 4 from verse 7
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    3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

  5. Deuteronomy 28:33–34Rank 5 from verse 7
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    33The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

    34So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

From verse 8

  1. Hebrews 10:36Rank 1 from verse 8
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    36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

  2. Psalms 126:5–6Rank 2 from verse 8
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    5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

    6He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

  3. Proverbs 14:29Rank 3 from verse 8
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    29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

  4. 1 Peter 1:13Rank 4 from verse 8
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    13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

  5. James 5:11Rank 5 from verse 8
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    11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:6

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thorns

↗

Sense 1: Sharp spines or prickles. Sense 2: Thorn-bearing plants and figures of things that prick, obstruct, or grieve.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pot

↗

A vessel more deep than broad, made of earth, or iron or other metal, used for several domestic purposes.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

laughter

↗

Convulsive merriment; an expression of mirth peculiar to man, consisting in a peculiar noise and configuration of features, with a shaking of the sides and expulsion of breath.

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

COMBINED MEANING

fool

↗

Sense 1: A person lacking wisdom or moral understanding. Sense 2: As a verb, to act foolishly or deceive.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

vanity

↗

Emptiness, futility, worthlessness, falsehood, unreliability, or transience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:7

COMBINED MEANING

maketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of make (to form, create, produce, cause, appoint, perform, or render into a stated condition).

Meaning drawn from: 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

man

↗

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

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mad

↗

Out of sound judgment or self-control; insane, enraged, or violently furious.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gift

↗

Sense 1: Something given or bestowed; a present. Sense 2: An endowment or ability. Sense 3: A bribe.

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

COMBINED MEANING

destroyeth

↗

Third-person singular present form of destroy. Sense 1: Ruins, demolishes, consumes, or lays waste. Sense 2: Kills or cuts off. Sense 3: Causes a thing's structure, use, activity, or present condition to cease.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:8

COMBINED MEANING

better

↗

Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.

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

COMBINED MEANING

end

↗

Sense 1: The last or concluding part, termination, or limit. Sense 2: A purpose or intended result. Sense 3: As a verb, to cease or bring to a close.

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

COMBINED MEANING

patient

↗

Enduring delay, suffering, or provocation with steadfastness, forbearance, and self-restraint.

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

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

spirit

↗

Sense 1: An immaterial living or personal being distinct from a body. Sense 2: The inward life, disposition, mind, or courage of a person. Sense 3: The Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit of God.

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

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Related Concepts

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READ THE PASSAGE

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Suggested context · Ecclesiastes 7:2–10

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7:2It 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.

7:3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

7:4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

7:5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

7:6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

Selected passage

7:7¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Selected passage

7:8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Selected passage

7:9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

7:10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

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