Ecclesiastes 7:26

What does Ecclesiastes 7:26 mean?

A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 7:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I saw a thing more bitter than death, even the woman whose heart is full of tricks and nets, and whose hands are as bands. He with whom God is pleased will get free from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart <FI>is<Fi> nets and snares, her hands <FI>are<Fi> bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleasethGod shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

Context

v.25I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.

v.26This passage

v.27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Proverbs 7:21

    With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.

  • Proverbs 2:16

    To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;

  • Proverbs 5:3

    For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:

  • Proverbs 2:18

    For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;

  • Judges 16:18

    And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought the money in their hand.

  • Proverbs 23:27

    For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.

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