Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of 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 banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good [warning] 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 will be 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 a reproof of a wise man, 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.
As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.
7 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.
8 Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.
9 Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger will rest 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, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and [there is] an advantage [by it] 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 in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has 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 live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, [I say], God also has caused the one to agree with the other for [this] reason, 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.
I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.
16 Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.
17 Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest 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 well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
Wisdom will help the wise man 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 righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;
Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.
22 scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me,
All these things have I proved in 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 beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall 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 and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account [of things], and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.
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 her [to be], and I will pronounce [to be] more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, [who has] a band in her hands: [he that is] good in the sight of God shall be delivered 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, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time 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 my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have 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?
But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.
