Ecclesiastes Chapter 7
A solid rep is way more lit than fancy lotion; and passing away hits different than coming into the world, fr.
A good name {is} better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Chillin’ at a funeral is way more chill than a party: that’s just how life flows; the living gotta soak that in.
{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.
Being down is actually more enriching than cracking up: sadness boosts the soul, no cap.
Sorrow {is} better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. {Sorrow: or, Anger}
The wise feel all the feels at funerals; fools just wanna vibe at the celebration.
The heart of the wise {is} in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools {is} in the house of mirth.
Better to hear the real talk from the wise than to vibe with the tunes of fools, periodt.
{It is} better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Just like crackling thorns in a pot, laughter from fools is just empty noise.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so {is} the laughter of the fool: this also {is} vanity. {crackling: Heb. sound}
For real, oppression drives a wise person to madness; and a gift can twist up the heart.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
The finale of something is way better than the beginning: patience is a whole mood, pride is sus.
Better {is} the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: {and} the patient in spirit {is} better than the proud in spirit.
Don’t be quick to get heated: anger just chills in the hearts of fools, no cap.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Don’t be like, "Wasn’t life more lit back in the day?" 'Cause that’s not a wise thought, fam.
Say not thou, What is {the cause} that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. {wisely: Heb. out of wisdom}
Wisdom’s a whole vibe along with an inheritance; it’s a major flex for those who catch the rays.
Wisdom {is} good with an inheritance: and {by it there is} profit to them that see the sun. {good...: or, as good as an inheritance, yea, better too}
Wisdom’s got your back like cash does, but knowledge is the real MVP; it gives life to those who rock it.
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. {defence: Heb. shadow}
Peep the works of God: who can fix what He made all sus?
Consider the work of God: for who can make {that} straight, which he hath made crooked?
When times are dope, celebrate; but when it’s tough, reflect: God’s got balance in the game, so you won’t find anything after Him.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. {set: Heb. made}
I’ve seen it all in my wild days: a just dude might dip early in his goodness, while a wicked one just keeps living it up in chaos.
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.
Don’t go too hard on the righteousness or act like you know everything; why would you self-sabotage?
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? {destroy...: Heb. be desolate?}
Don’t lean too much on the wicked side or be a fool; why die before your time?
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? {before...: Heb. not in thy time?}
It’s fire to hold onto this; don’t let go: the one who fears God will navigate all the drama.
{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.
Wisdom’s got the wise flexin’ harder than ten buff dudes in the city.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty {men} which are in the city.
For real, there’s no just dude on the planet who does good and doesn’t slip up.
For {there is} not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Don't sweat the tea that’s been spilled; you might catch your homie throwing shade at you, no cap.
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: {take...: Heb. give not thine heart}
Real talk, your own heart knows you’ve probably shaded others too.
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
I tried to level up in wisdom, but wisdom was playing hard to get, fr.
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it {was} far from me.
Like, who can even reach what’s really far and deep? That’s sus.
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
I was on a mission to know all the vibes, figure out wisdom, and see how wild foolishness gets.
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: {I applied...: Heb. I and mine heart compassed}
I found out that a woman with a sneaky heart is more bitter than death; if you’re blessed by God, you’ll dodge her traps, but the sinner’s definitely getting caught.
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. {whoso...: Heb. he that is good before God}
Check it, I've been counting to find the real deal, says the preacher.
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, {counting} one by one, to find out the account: {counting...: or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason}
My soul's still searching, but I can’t find it: one dude out of a thousand, but no lady in sight, periodt.
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.
For real, the only thing I've found is that God made man straight-up good, but they keep coming up with wild ideas.
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.