Ecclesiastes 7
1 A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of 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.
It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to a house of feasting. For in the former, we are admonished about the end of all things, so that the living consider what may be in the future.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
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 a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.
7 Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his 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.
The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
You should not say: “What do you think is the reason that the former times were better than they are now?” For this type of question is foolish.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
For as wisdom protects, so also does money protect. But learning and wisdom have this much more: that they grant life to one who possesses them.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.
In good times, enjoy good things, but beware of an evil time. For just as God has established the one, so also the other, in order that man may not find any just complaint against him.
15 All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing.
I also saw this, in the days of my vanity: a just man perishing in his justice, and an impious man living a long time in his malice.
16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.
17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
It is good for you to support a just man. Furthermore, you should not withdraw your hand from him, for whoever fears God, neglects nothing.
19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.
21 Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
So then, do not attach your heart to every word that is spoken, lest perhaps you may hear your servant speaking ill of you.
22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.
23 All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
I have tested everything in wisdom. I have said: “I will be wise.” And wisdom withdrew farther from me,
24 That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal her?
25 I 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.
I have examined all things in my soul, so that I may know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason, and so that I may recognize the impiety of the foolish, and the error of the imprudent.
26 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.
And I have discovered a woman more bitter than death: she who is like the snare of a hunter, and whose heart is like a net, and whose hands are like chains. Whoever pleases God shall flee from her. But whoever is a sinner shall be seized by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;
Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation
28 which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
which my soul still seeks and has not found. One man among a thousand, I have found; a woman among them all, I have not found.
29 Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
This alone have I discovered: that God made man righteous, and yet he has adulterated himself with innumerable questions. Who is so great as the wise? And who has understood the meaning of the word?
