Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than costly perfume, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.

A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, for mourning comes to all people at the end of life, so living people must take this to heart.

[It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good [warning] to his heart.

3 Grief is better than laughter, for after sadness of face comes gladness of heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of feasting.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 It is better to listen to the rebuke of the wise than to listen to the song of fools.

[It is] better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 For like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so also is the laughter of fools. This, too, is vapor.

As the sound of thorns under a cauldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

7 Extortion certainly makes a wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

8 Better is the end of a matter than the beginning; and the people patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.

The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

9 Do not be quick to anger in your spirit, for anger resides in the hearts of fools.

Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the days of old better than these?” For it is not because of wisdom that you ask this question.

Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for you do not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good. It benefits those who see the sun.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and [there is] an advantage [by it] to them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom provides protection as money can provide protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to whoever has it.

For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

13 Consider the deeds of God: Who can straighten out anything he has made crooked?

Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

14 When times are good, live happily in that good, but when times are bad, consider this: God has allowed both to exist side by side. For this reason, no one will find out anything that is coming after him.

In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, [I say], God also has caused the one to agree with the other for [this] reason, that man should find nothing after him.

15 I have seen many things in my meaningless days. There are righteous people who perish in spite of their righteousness, and there are wicked people who live a long life in spite of their evil.

I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

16 Do not be self-righteous, wise in your own eyes. Why should you destroy yourself?

Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

17 Do not be too wicked or foolish. Why should you die before your time?

Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.

18 It is good that you should take hold of this wisdom, and that you should not let go of righteousness. For the person who fears God will meet all his obligations.

It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].

19 Wisdom is powerful in the wise man, more than ten rulers in a city.

Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin

21 Do not listen to every word that is spoken, because you might hear your servant curse you.

Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest you hear your servant cursing you.

22 Similarly, you know yourself that in your own heart you have often cursed others.

For many times he shall trespass against you, and repeatedly shall he afflict your heart; for thus also have you cursed others.

23 All this have I proven by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was more than I could be.

All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

24 Wisdom is far off and very deep. Who can find it?

[That which is] far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

25 I turned my heart to learn and examine and seek wisdom and the explanations of reality, and to understand that evil is stupid and that folly is madness.

I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account [of things], and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.

26 I found that more bitter than death is any woman whose heart is full of snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.

And I find her [to be], and I will pronounce [to be] more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, [who has] a band in her hands: [he that is] good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27 “Consider what I have discovered,” says the Teacher. “I have been adding one discovery to another in order to find an explanation of reality.

Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,

28 This is what I am still looking for, but I have not found it. I did find one righteous man among a thousand, but a woman among all those I did not find.

which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have not found.

29 I have discovered only this: That God created humanity upright, but they have gone away looking for many difficulties.”

But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.