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 name is better than costly perfume, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.
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 is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, for mourning comes to all people at the end of life, so living people must take this to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
Grief is better than laughter, for after sadness of face comes gladness of heart.
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 feasting.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
It is better to listen to the rebuke of the wise than to listen to 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.
For like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so also is the laughter of fools. This, too, is vapor.
7 Surely extortion maketh a wise man foolish; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.
Extortion certainly makes a wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Better is the end of a matter than the beginning; and the people patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Do not be quick to anger in your spirit, for anger resides in the hearts of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
Do not say, “Why were the days of old better than these?” For it is not because of wisdom that you ask this question.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance: yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good. It benefits those who see the sun.
12 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.
For wisdom provides protection as money can provide protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to whoever has it.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Consider the deeds of God: Who can straighten out anything he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath even made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out any thing [that shall be] after him.
When times are good, live happily in that good, but when times are bad, consider this: God has allowed both to exist side by side. For this reason, no one will find out anything that is coming after him.
15 All this 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.
I have seen many things in my meaningless days. There are righteous people who perish in spite of their righteousness, and there are wicked people who live a long life in spite of their evil.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Do not be self-righteous, wise in your own eyes. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Do not be too wicked or foolish. Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
It is good that you should take hold of this wisdom, and that you should not let go of righteousness. For the person who fears God will meet all his obligations.
19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers which are in a city.
Wisdom is powerful in the wise man, more than ten rulers in a city.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
There is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Do not listen to every word that is spoken, because you might hear your servant curse you.
22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Similarly, you know yourself that in your own heart you have often cursed others.
23 All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
All this have I proven by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was more than I could be.
24 That which is is far off, and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
Wisdom is far off and very deep. Who can find it?
25 I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness:
I turned my heart to learn and examine and seek wisdom and the explanations of reality, and to understand that evil is stupid and that folly is madness.
26 And I find a thing more bitter than death, [even] 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 found that more bitter than death is any woman whose heart is full of snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher; [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account:
“Consider what I have discovered,” says the Teacher. “I have been adding one discovery to another in order to find an explanation of reality.
28 which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
This is what I am still looking for, but I have not found it. I did find one righteous man among a thousand, but a woman among all those I did not find.
29 Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
I have discovered only this: That God created humanity upright, but they have gone away looking for many difficulties.”
