Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A good name is better than costly perfume, and the day of death is better 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 a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, for mourning comes to all people at the end of life, so living people must take this to heart.
3 Melior est ira risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis.
Grief is better than laughter, for after sadness of face comes gladness of heart.
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 feasting.
5 Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi;
It is better to listen to the rebuke of the wise than to listen to the song of fools.
6 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti. Sed et hoc vanitas.
For like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so also is the laughter of fools. This, too, is vapor.
7 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
Extortion certainly makes a wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
Better is the end of a matter than the beginning; and the people patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.
9 Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
Do not be quick to anger in your spirit, for anger resides in the hearts of fools.
10 Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est hujuscemodi interrogatio.
Do not say, “Why were the days of old better than these?” For it is not because of wisdom that you ask this question.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good. It benefits those who 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 provides protection as money can provide protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to whoever has it.
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Consider the deeds of God: Who can straighten out anything he 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.
When times are good, live happily in that good, but when times are bad, consider this: God has allowed both to exist side by side. For this reason, no one will find out anything that is coming 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 many things in my meaningless days. There are righteous people who perish in spite of their righteousness, and there are wicked people who live a long life in spite of their evil.
16 Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Do not be self-righteous, wise in your own eyes. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
Do not be too wicked or foolish. Why should you die before your 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 you should take hold of this wisdom, and that you should not let go of righteousness. For the person who fears God will meet all his obligations.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
Wisdom is powerful in the wise man, more than ten rulers in a city.
20 non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.
There is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;
Do not listen to every word that is spoken, because you might hear your servant curse you.
22 scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
Similarly, you know yourself that in your own heart you have often cursed others.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me,
All this have I proven by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was more than I could be.
24 multo magis quam erat. Et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?
Wisdom is far off and very deep. Who can find 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 heart to learn and examine and seek wisdom and the explanations of reality, and to understand that evil is stupid and that folly 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.
I found that more bitter than death is any woman whose heart is full of snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem,
“Consider what I have discovered,” says the Teacher. “I have been adding one discovery to another in order to find an explanation of reality.
28 quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi; mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
This is what I am still looking for, but I have not found it. I did find one righteous man among a thousand, but a woman among all those I did not find.
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?
I have discovered only this: That God created humanity upright, but they have gone away looking for many difficulties.”
