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 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 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 heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be 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 a reproof of a wise man, 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 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 a fool. This also is vanity.

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

Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth 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 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 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, “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 [there is] an advantage [by it] 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 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, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have 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! Who can make straight that 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; 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 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 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 very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! 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 a fool! Why shouldst 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 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 will help the wise man 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 righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin

Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who 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.

Give no heed to all the words which 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 many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself 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 be wise;” 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 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 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 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 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, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,

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

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.

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

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