DAWN

     Explanation: Ecclesiastes 7 speaks of the positive value of negative things and the negative value of positive things. Today's painting depicts mourning, which is the subject of the first part of today's chapter.

1. Narrator's Introduction - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:1   -  1:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
2. Teacher's Introduction  - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:12 -  2:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
3. Teacher's Word's           - Coping With Vanity                         (  2:12 - 11:9   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
4. Teacher's Conclusion    - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 11:10 - 12:7   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
5. Narrator's Conclusion   - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 12:8   - 12:14 ) - 946 B.C. Israel

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ecclesiastes 6. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized. ]

     A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth (1). It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; everyone ends up there; and the living will lay it to heart (2). Sorrow is better than laughter because sadness makes the heart better (3). The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heat of fools is in the house of mirth (4).
     It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools (5). For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so it the laughter of the fool; this is also is vanity (6). Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; and a gift destroys the heart (7). Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (8). Do not be hasty in spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools (9). Do not ask why former days were better than these. The inquiry is unwise (10). wisdom is good with an inheritance; it brings profit to the living (11). For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it (12).
     Consider God's work; for no one can make something straight which he has made crooked (13). In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider; God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him (14).
     Solomon said that he had seen everything in the days of his vanity; and he noticed that there is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness (15). So do not be overly righteous, nor overly wise; you may destroy yourself (16). Do not be overly wicked, nor overly foolish; you may die before your time (17). It is good that you should take hold of, and not let go of, the fact that he who fears God shall come forth of them all (18). Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city (19). For there is not a just man upon earth, who does good, and sins not (20). Also take heed unto all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you (21). You know that you have often cursed others in your heart (22). All of this Solomon proved by wisdom; he said he would be wise; but it was far from him (23).
     That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find (24). He applied his heart to know, to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness (25).
     He found that more bitter than death was the woman, whose heart was snares and nets, and her hands as bands; anyone who pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be taken by her (26).
     Behold, this have I found, says the preacher, counting one by one to find out the account which his soul seeks, but he found nothing; one man among a thousand he found; but a woman among all those he did not find. He found only that God made man upright, but they have sought many schemes (27-29).

The Positive Value of Negative Things and the Negative Value of Positive Things

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 [this] 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 enquire wisely[from wisdom] 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 [this] the work of God: for who can make that straight, [this] which he hath made crooked?
¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set [this] the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing [what soever] after him.

¹⁵ [This] -- 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 [this] thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth [this] 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 [not] thou hear [this] thy servant curse thee:
²² For oftentimes [in an abundance of times] 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 findit 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 [this] the woman, whose [own] heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth [is goodbefore the face of] 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 [this] man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.