Ecclesiastes 7
1 A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Better a name, 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 house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
Better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of banqueting, for, that, is the end of all men, —and, the living, should take it to his heart.
3 Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Better is grief than laughter, —for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, in the house of mirth.
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards,
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 the dullard, —even this, then, was vanity.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, —and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, —Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, —for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain.
10 Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, —and a profit, to such as see the sun.
12 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.
For, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, —but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof.
13 Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
Consider the work of God, —for who can straighten what he hath bent?
14 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.
In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but, in the day of misfortune, consider, —Even the one equally with the other, hath God made, to the end man might find out—after him—nothing.
15 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.
Everything, had I seen, in my days of vanity, —Here was a righteous man, perishing in his righteousness, and there was a lawless man, continuing long in his wickedness.
16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?
17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst thou die, before thy 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 cometh forth from them all.
It is well that thou shouldst lay fast hold of this, but, even from the other, do not withdraw thy hand, —for, he that revereth God, shall come forth out of them all.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.
Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, —lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!
22 For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, —that, even thou thyself, hast reviled others.
23 All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this, have I proved by wisdom, —I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.
24 Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?
Far away, is that which hath been, —and deep, deep, who can find it out?
25 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;
Resolved, I, in my heart, to know and search out, and to seek wisdom, and a conclusion, —and to know lawlessness [to be] stupidity, and folly to be madness.
26 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.
I, could indeed find, to be, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is, snares and nets, and her hands, bonds, —whoso is pleasing before God, shall escape from her, but, he that sinneth, shall be captured by her.
27 See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;
See! this, have I found, saith the Proclaimer [counting] one by one, to find a conclusion;
28 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.
what my soul still sought, yet I found not, —one man out of a thousand, have I found, but, a woman among all these, have I not found.
29 Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
Only, see, this, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.
