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 laetitia
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 velox sis 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 causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt stulta est enim huiuscemodi 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 praecave sicut enim hanc sic et illam fecit Deus ut non inveniat homo contra eum iustas 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.
haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae iustus perit in iustitia 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 iustus 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 iustum sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam quia qui Deum timet nihil neglegit
19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
sapientia confortabit 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 iustus 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 accommodes 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 tua conscientia 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 temptavi 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 quaererem sapientiam et rationem et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti et errorem inprudentium
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 quae laqueus venatorum est et sagena cor eius vincula sunt manus illius qui placet Deo effugiet eam 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 dicit 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 quaerit anima mea et non inveni virum de mille unum repperi 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 quaestionibus quis talis ut sapiens est et quis cognovit solutionem verbi
