Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good name is betere than preciouse oynementis; and the dai of deth is betere than the dai of birthe.
Melius est nomen bonum, quam unguenta pretiosa: et dies mortis die nativitatis.
2 It is betere to go to the hous of morenyng, than to the hous of a feeste; for in that hous `of morenyng the ende of alle men is monestid, and a man lyuynge thenkith, what is to comynge.
Melius est ire ad domum luctus, quam ad domum convivii: in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.
3 Yre is betere than leiyyng; for the soule of a trespassour is amendid bi the heuynesse of cheer.
Melior est ira risu: quia per tristitiam vultus, corrigitur animus delinquentis.
4 The herte of wise men is where sorewe is; and the herte of foolis is where gladnesse is.
Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi laetitia.
5 It is betere to be repreued of a wijs man, than to be disseyued bi the flateryng of foolis;
Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi.
6 for as the sown of thornes brennynge vndur a pot, so is the leiyyng of a fool. But also this is vanyte.
quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti: sed et hoc vanitas.
7 Fals chalenge disturblith a wijs man, and it schal leese the strengthe of his herte.
Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
8 Forsothe the ende of preyer is betere than the bigynnyng. A pacient man is betere than a proud man.
Melior est finis orationis, quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
9 Be thou not swift to be wrooth; for ire restith in the bosum of a fool.
Ne sis velox ad irascendum: quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
10 Seie thou not, What gessist thou is of cause, that the formere tymes weren betere than ben now? for whi siche axyng is fonned.
Ne dicas: Quid putas causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est huiuscemodi interrogatio.
11 Forsothe wisdom with richessis is more profitable, and profitith more to men seynge the sunne.
Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
12 For as wisdom defendith, so money defendith; but lernyng and wisdom hath this more, that tho yyuen lijf to `her weldere.
Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia. hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
13 Biholde thou the werkis of God, that no man may amende hym, whom God hath dispisid.
Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
14 In a good day vse thou goodis, and bifore eschewe thou an yuel day; for God made so this dai as that dai, that a man fynde not iust playnyngis ayens hym.
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 Also Y siy these thingis in the daies of my natyuyte; a iust man perischith in his riytfulnesse, and a wickid man lyueth myche tyme in his malice.
Haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae: Iustus perit in iustitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
16 Nyle thou be iust myche, nether vndurstonde thou more than is nedeful; lest thou be astonyed.
Noli esse iustus multum: neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
17 Do thou not wickidli myche, and nyle thou be a fool; lest thou die in a tyme not thin.
Ne impie agas multum: et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
18 It is good, that thou susteyne a iust man; but also withdrawe thou not thin hond from hym; for he that dredith God, is not necligent of ony thing.
Bonum est te sustentare iustum, et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam: quia qui timet Deum, nihil negligit.
19 Wisdom hath coumfortid a wise man, ouer ten pryncis of a citee.
Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis.
20 Forsothe no iust man is in erthe, that doith good, and synneth not.
Non est enim homo iustus in terra, qui faciat bonum, et non peccet.
21 But also yyue thou not thin herte to alle wordis, that ben seid; lest perauenture thou here thi seruaunt cursynge thee;
Sed et cunctis sermonibus, qui dicuntur, ne accomodes cor tuum: ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi.
22 for thi conscience woot, that also thou hast cursid ofte othere men.
scit enim conscientia tua, quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
23 I asayede alle thingis in wisdom; Y seide, I schal be maad wijs, and it yede awei ferthere fro me, myche more than it was;
Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me
24 and the depthe is hiy, who schal fynde it?
multo magis quam erat: et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?
25 I cumpasside alle thingis in my soule, to kunne, and biholde, and seke wisdom and resoun, and to knowe the wickidnesse of a fool, and the errour of vnprudent men.
Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem, et considerarem, et quaererem sapientiam, et rationem: et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
26 And Y foond a womman bitterere than deth, which is the snare of hunteris, and hir herte is a net, and hir hondis ben boondis; he that plesith God schal ascape hir, but he that is a synnere, schal be takun of hir.
et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quae laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor eius, vincula sunt manus illius. qui placet Deo, effugiet illam: qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa.
27 Lo! Y foond this, seide Ecclesiastes, oon and other, that Y schulde fynde resoun, which my soule sekith yit;
Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum, ut invenirem rationem,
28 and Y foond not. I foond o man of a thousynde; Y foond not a womman of alle.
quam adhuc quaerit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi, mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
29 I foond this oonli, that God made a man riytful; and he medlide hym silf with questiouns with out noumbre. Who is siche as a wijs man? and who knowith the expownyng of a word?
Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quaestionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?
