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 glad.
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 extortion maketh a wise man foolish; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.
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 inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance: yea, more excellent is 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, even as money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath 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, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath even made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out any thing [that shall be] after him.
15 Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: justus perit in justitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing.
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 that withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers which are in a city.
20 non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.
Surely there is not a righteous 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 not 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 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 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 turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is 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 a thing more bitter than death, [even] 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; [laying] one thing to another, 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 still seeketh, but I have not found: 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?
Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
