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 ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s 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 better.

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 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 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 a wise man mad; and a gift destroys the heart.

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 thereof: and 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 your 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 not you, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, —and a profit, to such as see the sun.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that 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, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have 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, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing 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 things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness.

16 Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?

Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why should you destroy yourself?

17 Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst thou die, before thy time?

Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before your 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 you should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all.

19 Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.

Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

For there is not a just man on 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 take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you:

22 For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, —that, even thou thyself, hast reviled others.

For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself 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 have I proved by 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 far off, and exceeding 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 applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and 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 her hands as bands: whoever 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, this have I found, says the preacher, counting one by one, 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 yet my soul seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

29 Only, see, this, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.

See, this only have I found, that God has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.