Ecclesiastes 7

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

A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; inasmuch as that is the end of all men: and let the living 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 should take this to heart.

3 Better is vexation than laughing; for through the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

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

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

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 that a man should 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 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. Also this is vanity.

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

7 For [exercising] oppression maketh a wise man mad; and bribery corrupteth the heart.

Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

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

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

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

Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Thou must not say, How was it that the former days were better than these? for it is not out of wisdom that thou askest concerning this.

Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

11 Wisdom is better than an inheritance, yea, preferable for those that see the sun;

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

12 For under the shadow of wisdom [a man is equally well as] under the shadow of money; but the superior excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to him that possesseth it.

For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

13 Consider [then] the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

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

14 On the day of prosperity be happy, but on the day of adversity look on: also this hath God made in equal measure with the other, to the end that man should not find the least to censure him.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is many a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is many a wicked man that liveth long in his wickedness.—

All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.

16 Be not righteous over much; neither show thyself over wise: why wouldst thou destroy thyself?

Do not be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

17 Be not wicked over much, and be no fool: why wouldst thou die before thy time?

Do not be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

18 It is good that thou shouldst take hold of that, and that also from this thou withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God will come forth out of them all.

It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also do not withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

19 Wisdom giveth more strength to the wise than ten rulers which were in the city.

Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 For no man is so righteous upon earth, that he should do always good, and never sin.—

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.

21 Also take no heed unto all the words that are spoken: lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.

Also do not take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

22 For oftentimes also doth thy own heart know that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.—

for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

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

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

24 Far is what formerly was so, and what was deep remaineth deep: who can find it out?

That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

25 Then I turned myself about together with my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and experience, and to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness.

I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

26 And I find as more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bonds: he that is deemed good before God will escape from her; but the sinner will be caught by her.

I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

27 Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, [adding] one to the other, to find experience,

“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation

28 What my soul constantly sought, but I found it not; one man among a thousand did I find; but a woman among all these did I not find.

which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.

29 Lo, this only did I find, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought for many [sinful] devices.

Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”