Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
Nama harum lebih baik daripada minyak bernilai tinggi; dan hari kematian lebih baik daripada hari jadi.
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.
Lebih baik pergi ke rumah duka daripada ke tempat pesta. Sebab kita harus selalu mengenang bahwa maut menunggu setiap orang.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
Kesedihan lebih baik daripada tawa. Biar wajah murung, asal hati lega.
4 Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.
Orang bodoh terus mengejar kesenangan; orang arif selalu memikirkan kematian.
5 It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person than to hear the song of fools.
Lebih baik ditegur oleh orang yang berbudi, daripada dipuji oleh orang yang sukar mengerti.
6 The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.
Tawa orang bodoh tidak berarti, seperti bunyi duri dimakan api.
7 Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
Jika orang arif menipu, bodohlah tindakannya; jika orang menerima uang suap, rusaklah wataknya.
8 Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
Lebih baik akhir suatu perkara daripada permulaannya; lebih baik bersabar daripada terlalu bangga.
9 Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
Jangan buru-buru naik pitam; hanya orang bodoh menyimpan dendam.
10 Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
Janganlah bertanya, "Mengapa zaman dulu lebih baik daripada zaman sekarang?" Hanya orang dungu yang bertanya begitu.
11 Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
Orang hidup seharusnya berhikmat; nilai hikmat sama dengan warisan;
12 For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!
sama pula dengan uang pemberi rasa aman. Apalagi pengetahuan tentang hikmat! Siapa memilikinya akan selamat.
13 Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
Perhatikanlah pekerjaan Allah. Sebab siapa dapat meluruskan apa yang dibengkokkan Allah?
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.
Jadi, bergembiralah jika engkau sedang mujur. Tetapi kalau engkau ditimpa bencana, jangan lupa bahwa Allah memberikan kedua-duanya. Kita tak tahu apa yang terjadi selanjutnya.
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.
Hidupku tak ada gunanya, tetapi selama hidupku itu kulihat yang berikut ini: Ada kalanya orang yang baik binasa, walaupun dia saleh. Adakalanya orang yang jahat panjang umurnya, walaupun dia terus berdosa.
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?
Janganlah terlalu baik dan jangan pula terlalu bijaksana. Apa gunanya bunuh diri?
17 On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
Jangan juga terlalu jahat atau terlalu dungu. Untuk apa mati sebelum waktunya?
18 You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
Hindarilah kedua-duanya tadi. Jika kita takut kepada Allah, pastilah kita berhasil baik.
19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
Hikmat membuat pemiliknya lebih perkasa daripada sepuluh penguasa di sebuah kota.
20 There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
Di bumi ini tak ada orang yang sempurna; tak ada yang selalu berbuat baik dan tak pernah berdosa.
21 Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
Jangan suka mendengarkan omongan-omongan, siapa tahu kau sedang dikutuk seorang pelayan.
22 for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
Engkau sendiri pun menyadari bahwa orang lain pernah juga kaukutuki.
23 I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.
Semua itu kuuji dengan hikmatku. Namun semakin kucari hikmat itu, semakin jauh ia daripadaku.
24 Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
Siapa dapat menemukan arti hidup ini? Terlalu dalam untuk dapat dimengerti!
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.
Namun aku tekun belajar dan mencari pengetahuan, supaya mendapat hikmat dan jawaban atas segala pertanyaan. Aku mencoba mengerti bahwa dosa itu kebodohan, dan kejahatan adalah kenekatan.
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.
Aku mendapati bahwa wanita lebih pahit daripada maut. Cinta wanita seperti jala dan perangkap yang siap menangkap mangsanya. Pelukannya seperti belenggu yang mengikat erat. Orang yang melakukan kehendak Allah terhindar dari jeratnya, tapi orang berdosa pasti akan ditawannya.
27 This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
Lihat, kata Sang Pemikir: Semua itu kutemukan, ketika langkah demi langkah kucari jawaban.
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.”
Masih juga aku mencari jawaban-jawaban lain, namun tidak berhasil. Di antara seribu orang, kudapati seorang laki-laki yang kuhormati. Tetapi di antara mereka tak ada wanita yang dapat kuhargai.
29 But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
Hanya inilah yang kudapat: Allah membuat kita sederhana dan biasa. Tetapi kita sendirilah yang membuat diri kita rumit dan berbelit-belit.
