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 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 inquire wisely concerning this.
THE ‘GOOD OLD TIMES’
‘Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.’
Ecclesiastes 7:10
This text has a natural and deep connection with Solomon and his times. The former days were better than his days; he could not help seeing that they were. Therefore it was that Solomon hated all his labour that he had wrought under the sun, for all was vanity and vexation of spirit.
I. Of Christian nations these words are not true.—They pronounce the doom of the old world, but the new world has no part in them, unless it copies the sins and follies of the old. And therefore for us it is not only an act of prudence, but a duty—a duty of faith in God, a duty of loyalty to Jesus Christ our Lord—not to ask why the former times were better than these. For they were not better than these. Each age has its own special nobleness, its own special use; but every age has been better than the age which went before it; for the Spirit of God is leading the ages on toward that whereof it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, the things which God hath prepared for those that love Him.’
II. The inquiry shows disbelief in our Lord’s own words that all dominion is given to Him in heaven and earth, and that He is with us always, even to the end of the world.
—Canon Kingsley.
Illustration
‘This is the outcry of every age. Certainly it is a great difficulty in the way of the evolution theory as the one explanation of man and of things. That it plays a very important part there can be no question; but looking at it as the one explanation, it is a fact that the past looms brighter in man’s memory than either the present or the future: there are always rays of glory trailing down the vistas of time. Every movement for reformation is really, when you look into the springs of it, a lament for restoration; what man prays for always is the restoration of the glittering pageant, the golden Saturnine reign.’
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 the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14.
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.
15.
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 thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth 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 thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22.
For 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.
24.
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it 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 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.
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 man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.