Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.
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.
Melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii; in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
Melior est ira risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis.
4 Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.
Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.
5 It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person than to hear the song of fools.
Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi;
6 The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.
quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti. Sed et hoc vanitas.
7 Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
8 Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
9 Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
10 Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est hujuscemodi interrogatio.
11 Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
12 For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!
Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia; hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
13 Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
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 die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave; sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum justas querimonias.
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.
Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: justus perit in justitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
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?
Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
17 On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
18 You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
Bonum est te sustentare justum: sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam; quia qui timet Deum nihil negligit.
19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
20 There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.
21 Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;
22 for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
23 I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.
Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me,
24 Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
multo magis quam erat. Et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?]
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.
[Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem, et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
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.
et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor ejus; vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo effugiet illam; qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa.
27 This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem,
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.”
quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi; mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
29 But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quæstionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?]
