Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2 Melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii; in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.
[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 his heart.
3 Melior est ira risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis.
Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.
The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.
5 Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi;
[It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti. Sed et hoc vanitas.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.
7 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.
9 Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est hujuscemodi interrogatio.
Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.
12 Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia; hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave; sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum justas querimonias.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15 Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: justus perit in justitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickedness.
16 Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 Bonum est te sustentare justum: sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam; quia qui timet Deum nihil negligit.
[It is] good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city.
20 non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.
For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22 scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me,
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.
24 multo magis quam erat. Et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?]
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 [Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem, et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:
26 et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor ejus; vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo effugiet illam; qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa.
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem,
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:
28 quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi; mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quæstionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?]
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
