Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his birth.

2 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 his heart.

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 by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools 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 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man 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 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool. This also is vanity.

7 Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; and a gift destroys the heart.

Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth the understanding.

8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.

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

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 Say not you, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

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 with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

Wisdom is as good as an estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it.

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 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?

Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

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 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness.

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 Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why should you destroy yourself?

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before your time?

Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?

18 It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all.

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 strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

20 For there is not a just man on earth, that does good, and sins not.

Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.

21 Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you:

Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!

22 For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others.

For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast cursed others.

23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

All this have I tried by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.

24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25 I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

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 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

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 Behold, this have I found, says the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.

28 Which yet my soul seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

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 See, this only have I found, that God has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.