Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum, quam unguenta pretiosa: et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
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's better to go to a funeral than to a party. In the end, everyone dies, and those who are still alive should think about it.
3 Melior est ira risu: quia per tristitiam vultus, corrigitur animus delinquentis.
Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
4 Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.
Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.
5 Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi.
It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person than to hear the song of fools.
6 Quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti: sed et hoc vanitas.
The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.
7 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
8 Melior est finis orationis, quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
9 Ne sis velox ad irascendum: quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
10 Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? Stulta enim est huiuscemodi interrogatio.
Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
12 Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia. Hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
14 In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave. Sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum iustas querimonias.
On a good day, be happy. When a bad day comes, stop and think. God made each day, so you don't know what will happen to you next.
15 Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: Iustus perit in iustitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
Throughout my life I've seen so much that is hard to understand. Good people who die young despite doing what is right, and wicked people who live long evil lives.
16 Noli esse iustus multum: neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Don't think you can make yourself right by a lot of religious observance, and don't pretend to be so wise. Do you want to destroy yourself?
17 Ne impie agas multum: et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
18 Bonum est te sustentare iustum, sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam: quia qui timet Deum, nihil negligit.
You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis.
Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
20 Non est enim homo iustus in terra, qui faciat bonum, et non peccet.
There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus, qui dicuntur, ne accomodes cor tuum: ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi.
Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
22 Scit enim conscientia tua, quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me
I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.
24 multo magis quam erat: et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?
Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
25 Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem, et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem: et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
I turned my thoughts to discover, investigate, and to find out more about wisdom and what makes sense. I wanted to know more about how stupid evil really is, and how ridiculous it is to be a fool.
26 et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor eius, vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo, effugiet illam: qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa.
I discovered something more horrible than death: foolishness like a woman who tries to entrap you, who wants to use her mind and hands to catch you and tie you up. Those who follow God will not be caught, but sinners will fall into her trap.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum, ut invenirem rationem,
This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
28 quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi, mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
Although I really searched, I didn't find what I was looking for. People say, “I found one man among a thousand, but not one woman.”
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?
But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
