< Ecclesiastes 7 >
1 Better a name, than precious ointment, —and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa et dies mortis die nativitatis
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.
melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit
3 Better is grief than laughter, —for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.
melior est ira risu quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis
4 The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, in the house of mirth.
cor sapientium ubi tristitia est et cor stultorum ubi laetitia
5 Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards,
melius est a sapiente corripi quam stultorum adulatione decipi
6 For, as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so, is the laughter of the dullard, —even this, then, was vanity.
quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla sic risus stulti sed et hoc vanitas
7 For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, —and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.
calumnia conturbat sapientem et perdet robur cordis illius
8 Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, —Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit.
melior est finis orationis quam principium melior est patiens arrogante
9 Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, —for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain.
ne velox sis ad irascendum quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit
10 Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.
ne dicas quid putas causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt stulta est enim huiuscemodi interrogatio
11 Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, —and a profit, to such as see the sun.
utilior est sapientia cum divitiis et magis prodest videntibus solem
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.
sicut enim protegit sapientia sic protegit pecunia hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo
13 Consider the work of God, —for who can straighten what he hath bent?
considera opera Dei quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit
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 die bona fruere bonis et malam diem praecave sicut enim hanc sic et illam fecit Deus ut non inveniat homo contra eum iustas querimonias
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.
haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae iustus perit in iustitia sua et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua
16 Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?
noli esse iustus multum neque plus sapias quam necesse est ne obstupescas
17 Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst thou die, before thy time?
ne impie agas multum et noli esse stultus ne moriaris in tempore non tuo
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.
bonum est te sustentare iustum sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam quia qui Deum timet nihil neglegit
19 Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.
sapientia confortabit sapientem super decem principes civitatis
20 For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
non est enim homo iustus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet
21 Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, —lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!
sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes cor tuum ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi
22 For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, —that, even thou thyself, hast reviled others.
scit enim tua conscientia quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis
23 All this, have I proved by wisdom, —I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.
cuncta temptavi in sapientia dixi sapiens efficiar et ipsa longius recessit a me
24 Far away, is that which hath been, —and deep, deep, who can find it out?
multo magis quam erat et alta profunditas quis inveniet eam
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.
lustravi universa animo meo ut scirem et considerarem et quaererem sapientiam et rationem et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti et errorem inprudentium
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.
et inveni amariorem morte mulierem quae laqueus venatorum est et sagena cor eius vincula sunt manus illius qui placet Deo effugiet eam qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa
27 See! this, have I found, saith the Proclaimer [counting] one by one, to find a conclusion;
ecce hoc inveni dicit Ecclesiastes unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem
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.
quam adhuc quaerit anima mea et non inveni virum de mille unum repperi mulierem ex omnibus non inveni
29 Only, see, this, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.
solummodo hoc inveni quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quaestionibus quis talis ut sapiens est et quis cognovit solutionem verbi