Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.

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 banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good [warning] to his heart.

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.

Vexation 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 in the house of mirth.

5 [It is] better to hear a reproof of a wise man, 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 As the sound of thorns under a cauldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

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

7 for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

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

9 Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

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

10 Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for you do not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and [there is] an advantage [by it] to them that see the sun.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

13 Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, [I say], God also has caused the one to agree with the other for [this] reason, that man should find nothing after him.

In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.

15 I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.

16 Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.

Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18 It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.

19 Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.

20 For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin

Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

21 Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest you hear your servant cursing you.

Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.

22 For many times he shall trespass against you, and repeatedly shall he afflict your heart; for thus also have you cursed others.

For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 All these things have I 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] far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?

25 I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account [of things], and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.

I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;

26 And I find her [to be], and I will pronounce [to be] more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, [who has] a band in her hands: [he that is] good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

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

27 Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,

See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;

28 which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have not found.

which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.

29 But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.

Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.