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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 7:7–10

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
¶ 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.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Say 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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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

20 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

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.

From verse 9

  1. James 1:19Rank 1 from verse 9
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    19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  2. Proverbs 14:17Rank 2 from verse 9
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    17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

  3. Proverbs 16:32Rank 3 from verse 9
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    32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

  4. Ephesians 4:26–27Rank 4 from verse 9
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    26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

    27Neither give place to the devil.

  5. Proverbs 26:23–26Rank 5 from verse 9
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    23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

    24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

    25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

    26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

From verse 10

  1. Psalms 14:2–3Rank 1 from verse 10
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    2The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

    3They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

  2. Genesis 6:11–12Rank 2 from verse 10
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    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. Isaiah 50:1Rank 3 from verse 10
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    1THUS saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

  4. Judges 6:13Rank 4 from verse 10
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    13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

  5. Romans 1:22–32Rank 5 from verse 10
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    22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

    23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

    24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

    25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

    26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

    27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

    28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

    29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

    30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

    31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

    32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:9

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

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

anger

↗

Sense 1: Strong displeasure or indignation. Sense 2: As a verb, to provoke to such displeasure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fools

↗

Persons lacking wisdom or sound judgment, especially in moral or spiritual conduct.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 7:10

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

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

COMBINED MEANING

cause

↗

Sense 1: A reason, ground, matter in dispute, or judicial case. Sense 2: As a verb, to make something happen.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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

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

dost

↗

Sense 1: Do: perform, act, or carry out. Sense 2: Used as an auxiliary verb.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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Surrounding Verses

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6For 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.

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8Better 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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9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

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

Selected passage

11¶ Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

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