Ecclesiastes 7
1 Better a name, than precious ointment, —and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
A good name is better than precious oil, and the day of death, than the day of birth.
2 Better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of banqueting, for, that, is the end of all men, —and, the living, should take 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 will lay it to his heart.
3 Better is grief than laughter, —for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, 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 Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards,
It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise man, 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 dullard, —even this, then, was vanity.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7 For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, —and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.
Surely oppression makes the wise man foolish, and a bribe destroys the understanding.
8 Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, —Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, —for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
10 Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.
Say thou not, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou do not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, —and a profit, to such as see the sun.
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
12 For, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, —but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof.
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 the work of God, —for who can straighten what he hath bent?
Consider the work of God. For who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but, in the day of misfortune, consider, —Even the one equally with the other, hath God made, to the end man might find out—after him—nothing.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider. Yea, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
15 Everything, had I seen, in my days of vanity, —Here was a righteous man, perishing in his righteousness, and there was a lawless man, continuing 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 prolongs his life in his evil-doing.
16 Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?
Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise. Why should thou destroy thyself?
17 Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst thou die, before thy time?
Do not much wrong, nor be thou a fool. Why should thou die before thy time?
18 It is well that thou shouldst lay fast hold of this, but, even from the other, do not withdraw thy hand, —for, he that revereth God, shall come forth out of them all.
It is good that thou should take hold of this, yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand. For he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
19 Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
20 For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth that does good, and sins not.
21 Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, —lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!
Also do not take heed to all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
22 For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, —that, even thou thyself, hast reviled others.
For many times also thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise have cursed others.
23 All this, have I proved by wisdom, —I said, I will be wise, but, that, 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 away, is that which hath been, —and deep, deep, who can find it out?
That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
25 Resolved, I, in my heart, to know and search out, and to seek wisdom, and a conclusion, —and to know lawlessness [to be] stupidity, and folly to be madness.
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.
26 I, could indeed find, to be, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is, snares and nets, and her hands, bonds, —whoso is pleasing before God, shall escape from her, but, he that sinneth, shall be captured by her.
And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 See! this, have I found, saith the Proclaimer [counting] one by one, to find a conclusion;
Behold, I have found this, says the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account,
28 what my soul still sought, yet I found not, —one man out of a thousand, have I found, but, a woman among all these, have I not found.
which my soul still seeks, but I have not found: among a thousand I have found one man, but among all those I have not found a woman.
29 Only, see, this, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.
Behold, this only I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many contrivances.
