Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum, quam unguenta pretiosa: et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his 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 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 for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than 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 a fool. This also is vanity.
7 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth the understanding.
8 Melior est finis orationis, quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit 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 huiuscemodi interrogatio.
Say not, “What is the cause that the former days were better than these?” For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisdom is as good as an estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for 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 knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that 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 iustas querimonias.
In the day of prosperity be joyful; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.
15 Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: Iustus perit in iustitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.
16 Noli esse iustus multum: neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Be not righteous overmuch; 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 overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?
18 Bonum est te sustentare iustum, sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam: quia qui timet Deum, nihil negligit.
It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.
20 Non est enim homo iustus in terra, qui faciat bonum, et non peccet.
Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus, qui dicuntur, ne accomodes cor tuum: ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi.
Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!
22 Scit enim conscientia tua, quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast cursed others.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me
All this have I tried 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 my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.
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.
And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum, ut invenirem rationem,
Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.
28 quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi, mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand 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 made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
