Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.
Better [is] a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of 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.
Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth [it] unto his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.
Better [is] sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh 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 a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a 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.
Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than [for] a man to hear a 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 noise of thorns under the pot, So [is] the laughter of a fool, even this [is] vanity.
7 for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.
Surely oppression maketh the wise 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 latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better [is] the patient of spirit, than the haughty of 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 angry, For anger in the bosom of fools resteth.
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 thou, 'What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and [there is] an advantage [by it] to them that see the sun.
Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance, And an advantage [it is] to those beholding 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 defense, money [is] a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom [is], She reviveth her possessors.
13 Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?
See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He 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 a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find 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.
The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging [himself] in his wrong.
16 Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.
Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?
17 Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.
Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within 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 dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.
19 Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.
20 For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin
Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth 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 to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling 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 many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled 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 tried by wisdom; I have said, 'I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.
24 [That which is] far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?
Far off [is] that which hath been, and deep, deep, who doth find it?
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 have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the 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 am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart [is] nets and snares, her hands [are] bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,
See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to 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.
(that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found.
29 But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.
See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they — they have sought out many devices.
