Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his 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 should take this to heart.

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 heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

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.

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.

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than 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.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool. This also is vanity.

7 Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth the understanding.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.

9 Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

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

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

Wisdom is as good as an estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

13 Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?

Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.

In the day of prosperity be joyful; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.

15 All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.

All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.

16 Do not be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 Do not be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?

18 It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also do not withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.

19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.

Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.

21 Also do not take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!

22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast cursed others.

23 All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.

All this have I tried by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.

24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

I applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.

26 I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27 “Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation

Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.

28 which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.

That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.

29 Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”

Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.