Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better then a good oyntment, and the day of death, then the day that one is borne.

A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.

2 It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting, because this is the ende of all men: and the liuing shall lay it to his heart.

[It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good [warning] to his heart.

3 Anger is better then laughter: for by a sad looke the heart is made better.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 Better it is to heare ye rebuke of a wise man, then that a man should heare the song of fooles.

[It is] better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 For like ye noyse of the thornes vnder the pot, so is the laughter of the foole: this also is vanitie.

As the sound of thorns under a cauldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the rewarde destroyeth the heart.

for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

8 The ende of a thing is better then the beginning thereof, and the pacient in spirit is better then the proude in spirit.

The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

9 Be not thou of an hastie spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.

Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

10 Say not thou, Why is it that the former dayes were better then these? for thou doest not enquire wisely of this thing.

Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for you do not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

11 Wisedome is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sunne.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and [there is] an advantage [by it] to them that see the sun.

12 For man shall rest in the shadowe of wisedome, and in the shadowe of siluer: but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessers thereof.

For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

13 Beholde the worke of God: for who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?

Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

14 In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man shoulde finde nothing after him.

In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, [I say], God also has caused the one to agree with the other for [this] reason, that man should find nothing after him.

15 I haue seene all things in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his iustice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.

I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

16 Be not thou iust ouermuch, neither make thy selfe ouerwise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?

Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

17 Be not thou wicked ouermuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?

Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.

18 It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdrawe not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God, shall come forth of them all.

It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].

19 Wisedome shall strengthen the wise man more then ten mightie princes that are in ye citie.

Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 Surely there is no man iust in the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin

21 Giue not thine heart also to all ye wordes that men speake, lest thou doe heare thy seruant cursing thee.

Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest you hear your servant cursing you.

22 For often times also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others.

For many times he shall trespass against you, and repeatedly shall he afflict your heart; for thus also have you cursed others.

23 All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.

All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

24 It is farre off, what may it be? and it is a profound deepenesse, who can finde it?

[That which is] far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

25 I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,

I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account [of things], and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.

26 And I finde more bitter then death the woman whose heart is as nettes and snares, and her handes, as bands: he that is good before God, shalbe deliuered from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

And I find her [to be], and I will pronounce [to be] more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, [who has] a band in her hands: [he that is] good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27 Beholde, sayth the Preacher, this haue I found, seeking one by one to finde the count:

Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,

28 And yet my soule seeketh, but I finde it not: I haue found one man of a thousand: but a woman among them all haue I not founde.

which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have not found.

29 Onely loe, this haue I founde, that God hath made man righteous: but they haue sought many inuentions.

But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.