Ecclesiastes 7

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

A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2 [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.

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.

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

Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.

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 a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

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

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

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

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

Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.

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

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

9 Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger will rest 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, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for you do not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

Say not thou: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.

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

Wisdom is good with an inheritance, yea, a profit to them that see the sun.

12 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.

For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.

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

Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?

14 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.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God hath made even the one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 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.

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.

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

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

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

Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18 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].

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.

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

Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

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

For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

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

Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;

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

for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

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

All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: 'I will get wisdom'; but it was far from me.

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

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

25 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.

I turned about, and applied my heart to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;

26 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.

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.

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

Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, adding one thing to another, to find out the account;

28 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.

which yet my soul sought, but I found not; one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

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

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