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 huiuscemodi 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 iustas 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: Iustus perit in iustitia 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 iustus 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 iustum, 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 iustus 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 eius, 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.
