Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better 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 should take this to 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 face the heart is made good.
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 extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. 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 Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
10 Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.
Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
12 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.
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 has 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, 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.
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 this have I 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.
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 Do not be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
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 Do not be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your 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 you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.
You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn't sin.
There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
21 Also do not take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
23 All this have I proved in 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, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
25 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.
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 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.
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 Look, this have I found, says the Preacher, one to another, to find out the scheme;
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 my soul still seeks; but I have not found: 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 Look, this only have I found, that God made humankind upright, but they search for many schemes.
But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
