Ecclesiastes 7
1 [Having] a good reputation [MTY] is better than fine perfume, and the day that we die is better than the day that we are born.
Ein guter Ruf ist besser denn gute Salbe, und der Tag des Todes denn der Tag der Geburt.
2 It is better to go to a house where people are mourning [about someone who has died] than to go to a house where people are feasting, because everyone will die some day, and people who are alive should think seriously [IDM] about that.
Es ist besser in das Klagehaus gehen, denn in ein Trinkhaus; in jenem ist das Ende aller Menschen, und der Lebendige nimmt's zu Herzen.
3 It is better to be sad than to be [always] laughing, because being sad can cause us to think more about how we should conduct our lives [IDM].
Es ist Trauern besser als Lachen; denn durch Trauern wird das Herz gebessert.
4 Wise [people] who go to where others are mourning think about [the fact that some day they also will] die, but foolish people [PRS] [do not think about that]; they are always [MTY] laughing.
Das Herz der Weisen ist im Klagehause, und das Herz der Narren im Hause der Freude.
5 It is better to pay attention to [someone who is wise] you than to listen to the songs of a foolish person.
Es ist besser hören das Schelten der Weisen, denn hören den Gesang der Narren.
6 By [listening to] foolish people laughing we will not [learn any more than by listening to] the crackling of thorns [being burned] under a pot. Listening to fools is senseless.
Denn das Lachen der Narren ist wie das Krachen der Dornen unter den Töpfen; und das ist auch eitel.
7 When wise people say to others, “You must pay me a lot of money for me to protect you,” that causes those wise people to become foolish, and [accepting] bribes causes people to become unable to do what is fair/just.
Ein Widerspenstiger macht einen Weisen unwillig und verderbt ein mildtätiges Herz.
8 Finishing something is better than starting something, and being patient is better than being proud.
Das Ende eines Dinges ist besser denn sein Anfang. Ein geduldiger Geist ist besser denn ein hoher Geist.
9 Do not quickly (lose your temper/react to things angrily), because it is foolish people [SYN] who become very angry.
Sei nicht schnellen Gemütes zu zürnen; denn Zorn ruht im Herzen eines Narren.
10 Do not say, “Things were a lot better [RHQ] previously,” because it is people who are not wise who say that.
Sprich nicht: Was ist's, daß die vorigen Tage besser waren als diese? denn du fragst solches nicht weislich.
11 Being wise is better than inheriting [valuable things]; being wise provides lasting benefits for every person on the earth [MTY].
Weisheit ist gut mit einem Erbgut und hilft, daß sich einer der Sonne freuen kann.
12 We are [sometimes] protected by being wise like we are [sometimes] protected by having a lot of money, but being wise is better [than having a lot of money], [because] being wise prevents us from [doing foolish things that would] cause us to die.
Denn die Weisheit beschirmt, so beschirmt Geld auch; aber die Weisheit gibt das Leben dem, der sie hat.
13 Think [carefully about] what God has done. Certainly no one can [RHQ] cause to become straight the things that God has caused to be crooked.
Siehe an die Werke Gottes; denn wer kann das schlicht machen, was er krümmt?
14 When things are going well for you, be happy, and when things are not going well for you, remember that God is the one who causes good things to happen and who also causes disasters.
Am guten Tage sei guter Dinge, und den bösen Tag nimm auch für gut; denn diesen schafft Gott neben jenem, daß der Mensch nicht wissen soll, was künftig ist.
15 During all the time that I have been alive I have seen a lot of [HYP] things that seem senseless. I have seen righteous people die [while they are still young], and I have seen wicked people remain alive for a very long time in [spite of] their continuing to be wicked.
Allerlei habe ich gesehen in den Tagen meiner Eitelkeit. Da ist ein Gerechter, und geht unter mit seiner Gerechtigkeit; und ein Gottloser, der lange lebt in seiner Bosheit.
16 [So] do not think that you are very righteous and do not think that you are very wise, [because if you think those things], you will destroy yourself.
Sei nicht allzu gerecht und nicht allzu weise, daß du dich nicht verderbest.
17 If you do what is evil or do what is foolish, you might die while you are still young.
Sei nicht allzu gottlos und narre nicht, daß du nicht sterbest zur Unzeit.
18 Continue to avoid doing what is evil and doing what is foolish; avoid doing both of those things by continually revering God.
Es ist gut, daß du dies fassest und jenes auch nicht aus deiner Hand lässest; denn wer Gott fürchtet, der entgeht dem allem.
19 If you are wise, you will be more powerful/influential than the ten most powerful/influential men in your city.
Die Weisheit stärkt den Weisen mehr denn zehn Gewaltige, die in der Stadt sind.
20 There is no one in this world who [always] does what is right and who never sins.
Denn es ist kein Mensch so gerecht auf Erden, daß er Gutes tue und nicht sündige.
21 Do not pay attention [IDM] to everything that people say, because if you do that, you might hear your servant cursing you.
Gib auch nicht acht auf alles, was man sagt, daß du nicht hören müssest deinen Knecht dir fluchen.
22 You know that you have also cursed other people.
Denn dein Herz weiß, daß du andern oftmals geflucht hast.
23 I said [to myself] that I would use my wisdom to study all the things [that I have written about], but I was not able to do it successfully.
Solches alles habe ich versucht mit Weisheit. Ich gedachte, ich will weise sein; sie blieb aber ferne von mir.
24 Wisdom seems to be far from me; there is no one [RHQ] who can truly understand everything.
Alles, was da ist, das ist ferne und sehr tief; wer will's finden?
25 But I decided to investigate things and by my wisdom try to understand the reason for everything. I also wanted to understand why people act wickedly and why they act very foolishly.
Ich kehrte mein Herz, zu erfahren und erforschen und zu suchen Weisheit und Kunst, zu erfahren der Gottlosen Torheit und Irrtum der Tollen,
26 [One thing I learned was that] (allowing a woman to seduce you/having sex with a woman to whom you are not married) is worse than dying. A woman who tries to seduce men is [as dangerous as] a trap [MET]. [If you allow her to put] her arms [around you, it will be as though she will be fastening you with] chains. Women like that will capture sinful men, but men who please God will escape from such women.
und fand, daß bitterer sei denn der Tod ein solches Weib, dessen Herz Netz und Strick ist und deren Hände Bande sind. Wer Gott gefällt, der wird ihr entrinnen; aber der Sünder wird durch sie gefangen.
27 This is what I have learned: I tried to learn more and more about things to try to find out the reason for everything,
Schau, das habe ich gefunden, spricht der Prediger, eins nach dem andern, daß ich Erkenntnis fände.
28 and I continued to try to learn more, but I could not find [all that I was searching for]. [But] one thing that I found out was that among 1,000 [people] I found one righteous man, but I did not find even one righteous woman.
Und meine Seele sucht noch und hat's nicht gefunden: unter tausend habe ich einen Mann gefunden; aber ein Weib habe ich unter den allen nicht gefunden.
29 [But] I did learn one thing: When God created people, they were righteous, but they have found many ways to do many evil things.
Allein schaue das: ich habe gefunden, daß Gott den Menschen hat aufrichtig gemacht; aber sie suchen viele Künste.
