Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his birth.
2 It's better to go to a funeral than to a party. In the end, everyone dies, and those who are still alive should think about it.
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 heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person than 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 The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool. This also is vanity.
7 Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth the understanding.
8 Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.
9 Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
Say not, “What is the cause that the former days were better than these?” For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
Wisdom is as good as an estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?
14 On a good day, be happy. When a bad day comes, stop and think. God made each day, so you don't know what will happen to you next.
In the day of prosperity be joyful; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.
15 Throughout my life I've seen so much that is hard to understand. Good people who die young despite doing what is right, and wicked people who live long evil lives.
All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.
16 Don't think you can make yourself right by a lot of religious observance, and don't pretend to be so wise. Do you want to destroy yourself?
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?
18 You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.
19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.
20 There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.
21 Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!
22 for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast cursed others.
23 I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.
All this have I tried by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.
24 Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 I turned my thoughts to discover, investigate, and to find out more about wisdom and what makes sense. I wanted to know more about how stupid evil really is, and how ridiculous it is to be a fool.
I applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.
26 I discovered something more horrible than death: foolishness like a woman who tries to entrap you, who wants to use her mind and hands to catch you and tie you up. Those who follow God will not be caught, but sinners will fall into her trap.
And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27 This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.
28 Although I really searched, I didn't find what I was looking for. People say, “I found one man among a thousand, but not one woman.”
That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.
29 But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
