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 fine perfume; and the day of death better 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; for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.

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

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

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 a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man 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 extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

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. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

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

Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests 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.

Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about 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. Yes, it is more excellent for those who 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, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

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 that straight which he has 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 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.

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 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.

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

Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

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

Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your 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 you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

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

Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who 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 on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.

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

Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

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

for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise 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 I have proved in 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?

That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can 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 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.

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.

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.

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

“Behold, I have found this,” says Kohelet, “to one another, to find an explanation

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 still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man amongst a thousand, but I have not found a woman amongst all those.

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

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