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 perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his 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 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 for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than 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 a fool. This also is vanity.
7 For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, —and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.
Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth 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 its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit 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 resteth 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, “What is the cause that the former days were better than these?” For thou dost 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 estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for 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 defence, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth 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! Who can make straight that which he hath 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 look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be 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 have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.
16 Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst thou die, before thy time?
Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst 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 shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.
19 Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.
20 For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.
21 Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, —lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!
Give no heed to all the words which 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 thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast 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 tried 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 mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, 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 found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27 See! this, have I found, saith the Proclaimer [counting] one by one, to find a conclusion;
Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.
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.
That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.
29 Only, see, this, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.
Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
