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 reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
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'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.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person 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.
The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
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.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
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.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
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?
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
25 I applied mine 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 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.
26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
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.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
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.”
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
